§ 26. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what official advice he has given to the Legislative Councils of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland regarding the published proposals of the Federal Government of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland on changes in the franchise.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNone, Sir, regarding the franchise proposals of the Federal Government in regard to the Constitution Amendment Bill, but as I stated in the House on 9th July, I told the Governors of Northern Rhodesia and of Nyasaland that no objection was seen to the passage of a resolution by each of the Legislative Councils that they did not object to the introduction of the Federal Constitution Amendment Bill. The answer also explained my reasons for this view.
§ Mr. BrockwayHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the report in today's Press that the Constitution (Amendment)Bill was only carried by a majority of one in the Federal Assembly yesterday? Is he aware that the African Affairs Board has denounced these franchise proposals and that many Europeans in the Federal Parliament have also opposed them? Will he therefore reconsider giving his endorsement to proposals which may be very dangerous in inflaming opinion in these territories?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe hon. Gentleman is once again wrong in his detail, and a very important detail. The Bill was carried by the two-thirds majority which is necessary in order to secure an amendment of the Constitution. As I know that the hon. Gentleman and many people outside this House are interested in this matter, I should like to answer his questions at greater length. The African Affairs Board has reported to the Assembly that the Constitution (Amendment)Bill is, in its view, a differentiating Measure. Since then, yesterday, in fact, the Assembly has passed the Bill. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations has not received any information that the Board has 1504 requested the Speaker of the Federal Parliament to ask the Acting Governor-General of the Federation to reserve the Bill for Her Majesty's pleasure on the grounds that it is a differentiating Measure. If such a request is made, the Acting Governor-General of the Federation will transmit it to my noble Friend.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonDo I understand that the Minister is now answering Question No. 66, which is in my name, because he did not say so in the first place?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI was not answering that Question, but, in case the hon. Gentleman's Question was not reached, I thought it might help him and the House if I referred to it in my answer.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsThis will be the first time since the Federal Constitution came into operation on which the African Affairs Board has certified a Measure as being differentiating. If it reports it in the constitutional way, it will come to the Secretary of State. May I ask him whether, in view of the fact that this is an important issue and that this is the first time it has arisen, he will give an assurance that he himself and the Government will not make up their minds on a final decision about this matter until Parliament resumes in the Autumn?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat is a perfectly proper question which the right hon. Gentleman has asked. It is speculative, in the sense that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations has not received any official information that the Board has asked the Speaker of the Federal Parliament to ask the Acting Governor-General to reserve the Bill. If he is so asked, it will come, not to me, but to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and if my noble Friend recommended to Her Majesty that Her Majesty should give assent to the Bill, an Order in Council would be necessary. This Order in Council would have to lie on the Tables of both Houses of Parliament for 40 sitting days.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonIs it not a fact that, under these proposals, the Europeans will not only elect their own European Members but will also elect the African Members? Is the Minister aware that it has been widely stated in the Federation that, when Sir Roy Welensky came here, 1505 the Minister gave his assent and consent to these proposals? Will the right hon. Gentleman therefore care to deny or to confirm that, because of the very great misunderstanding in the Federation about the structure suggested in the proposals?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI would recommend the hon. Gentleman and all others interested to read the very fair leading article in the Manchester Guardian, which sets out in great detail the advantages and some of the disadvantages of this procedure. I would urge him also to recognise that through this procedure persons are placed for the first time on the electoral roll, and that this represents a very considerable advance and one which I hope hon. Members on neither side of the House will tend to forget.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my Question? Is it not obvious that this is a two-tier system, and also that the Europeans elect their own Members and also elect the African Members on the lower tier?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydEverybody who qualifies is entitled to vote under the proposals as put forward by Mr. Greenfield on either the A or B roll. Mr. Greenfield has also said in the Federal Parliament in the last two or three days that they would be prepared to consider sympathetically an Amendment to reduce the qualification from £180 to £150 a year, which would have a considerable effect on the number of Africans enfranchised.