HC Deb 01 May 1957 vol 569 cc194-5
41. Mrs. White

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been made to the petitions concerning electoral qualifications in Sierra Leone.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have asked the Governor to inform the petitioners that their petition has been laid before the Queen, but that I was unable to advise Her Majesty that it should be granted, since I regard the matter as primarily one for the people of Sierra Leone themselves. If, however, after the general election a different view were expressed in the new House of Representatives, I should be prepared to consider it afresh.

Mrs. White

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this restriction is more stringent in Sierra Leone than in any of the dependent territories? Can he not indicate that he regards it as desirable to change this regulation, even though it might not be possible to do so before the election?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The House should bear in mind that a similar provision was, with the agreement of all parties in the Assembly, applied to the Freetown Municipal Council, as it was felt that higher standards should not be asked of a local authority than of the Government central machinery.

Mr. Callaghan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the same stringent regulations were applied to candidates for the British House of Commons some of our colleagues with us today would not be here?

Mr. R. Edwards

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Ordinance was carried by the House of Representatives in Sierra Leone with only half of the representatives voting, that the voting was 16 to 3, that nine of the votes were by officials and threee were by chiefs indirectly elected, and that only three who participated in the voting were respresentative of the people? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that it is not true to say that the decision was supported by all parties, because the largest party has opposed this regulation from the beginning and—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I think that that is enough.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

A fairer way of breaking down the figures to show the way the voting went would be to say that the motion was carried by the votes of the five official members and also of the eleven elected unofficial members. I am bound to take very serious note of that fact.

Forward to