§ 5. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what basis it is proposed to appoint Assistant Ministers in Tanganyika in the interim development of the Ministerial system.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the passage in 393 the Governor's speech to the Tanganyika Legislative Council on 30th April, in which he announced the proposed appointment of six Assistant Ministers. As I said during the course of the debate on 4th June, the people chosen for these posts are those who, in the Governor's view, are the individuals best fitted by experience and interest to address themselves to the aspects of government concerned.
Following is extract from the Governor's speech:At the same time, and again with the agreement of the Secretary of State and subject to the approval of this Council, I propose to appoint six Unofficial Assistant Ministers. These Assistant Ministers will be expected to relieve the Ministers of many of the executive and administrative responsibilities for the departments which will be allocated to them, the departments having been chosen because the activities affect a large section of the population. In any case it is important that Ministers, if they are to devote themselves to policy, should be free as far as may be possible from such executive and administrative work. The Assistant Ministers would, furthermore, speak for their departments in Legislative Council, and where matters affecting these departments came before Executive Council, would attend meetings of Executive Council and take part in discussions. Finally, Assistant Ministers will have the duty of travelling widely in the territory and of acquiring first-hand information, assessing public opinion and explaining Government's policies. They will also be available to serve as chairmen or members of committees, or to undertake enquiries.In the very near future I shall be inviting certain individuals to accept appointment as Assistant Ministers; the name of those who have agreed to accept, together with the subjects assigned to them, will then be announced. It is proposed to make these selections on a non-racial basis and no special significance should be attached to any racial balance which my emerge from those selected and prepared to serve as Assistant Ministers in this interim measure in the development of a Ministerial system.