HC Deb 07 July 1959 vol 608 cc1106-7
32. Mr. Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the nature of the charges made against eighty-six Nyasa Africans under Section 9 (A) of the Southern Rhodesia Unlawful Organisations Act; and the result of the inquiry by the representative of the Governor of Nyasaland in Salisbury.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

They have all been charged with being members of an unlawful organisation. The Nyasaland Government's representative has been supplied with full particulars of each of the persons charged.

Mr. Callaghan

Is it the case that their crime consisted of sending contributions back to the African National Congress in Nyasaland? Is that really to be made the subject of a charge and consequent possible imprisonment, or a fine?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The hon. Member knows that these people have been charged with different offences. It would be impossible for me to give a general answer unless I went into every case.

Mr. Callaghan

Has not the right hon. Gentleman read the Federation's newsletter, which published the nature of the charges, and said that these people were charged because they sent their contributions back home? Have we really reached this state of things in a British Colony?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

When one is dealing with a number of people charged with different offences it is impossible to give a general answer. Those people who have been charged, in the proper way, have been convicted, and I have no further comment to make.