§ 32. Sir L. Plummerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the nature of the discussions that he had with the Government of Northern Rhodesia prior to the passing of the Riot Damages Ordinance, 1955, which gives the Governor powers to impose communal fines on all inhabitants of an area in which there has been riot damage.
§ Mr. HareThe Governor submitted the Ordinance to my right hon. Friend in draft to which he agreed subject to certain amendments.
§ Sir L. PlummerDoes not the Minister agree it is inconsistent with British ideas of justice that innocent people should be punished for the offences of the guilty? Does he not also agree that collective punishment should be used only in the most serious of crises, and will he not now have further discussions to see whether this retrogressive legislation cannot be withdrawn in the Colony?
§ Mr. HareThis Ordinance was produced only after a prolonged series of incidents in which drivers of motor cars were assaulted by crowds of Africans after being involved in accidents. And all the incidents have so far occurred in the railway belt, generally where there are unauthorised settlements of de-tribalised Africans along main roads. It was only after a very careful consideration that the Governor decided to bring in this Ordinance.