§ 22. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a further statement on the constitutional position of Her Majesty's territories in East and Central Africa; and what developments he plans for those territories in the near future.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am today answering a separate Question about Nyasaland by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. Johnson). Yesterday an Order in Council was made for Northern Rhodesia, and Royal Instructions were issued, giving effect to the decisions of 17 which I informed the House when replying to my hon. Friend the Member for Devonport (Miss Vickers) on 18th December. I have no statement to make about the East African territories.
§ Mr. HughesIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's experience of the model election now taking place, one-half of which has taken place, does he feel that that type of election could properly be applied to other territories in East Africa?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am sorry, but I did not hear the type of election which the hon. and learned Member suggested
§ Mr. HughesThe Minister must be aware that a model election is taking place in the territory in two parts. One part is completed and another part is about to take place. The question which I am asking is this. Does the right hon. Gentleman's experience of that type of election lead him to the view that it might fairly be applied to other British territories in East Africa?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydPerhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman had in mind Tanganyika, where the elections have been divided into two because of the vast size of the territory and the nature of the constituencies. No greater mistake could be made than to assume that circumstances which prevail in one territory are necessarily the same in other territories.