Church of Scotland Mission, Blantyre (Hansard, 26 March 1959)

§ 32. Mr. G. M. Thomson
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the complaints of police action against Africans connected with the Church of Scotland Mission, Blantyre, Nyasaland.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 10th March to the hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Miss Herbison) and other hon. Members, to whicth at the moment I have nothing to add. I hope the hon. Member will put the Question down again for early answer after the Easter Recess.

§ Mr. Thomson
Why should there be this long delay? Is the Secretary of State aware that, since he made the statement, the well-respected missionary on the spot, the Reverend Andrew Doig, has made a detailed statement reported in the Scotsman on 14th March of what took place, saying that the boys were walking normally from their classrooms to their dormitories and that the police attacked the boys and not the boys the police? Is not it clear that the authorities are delaying the matter in order to cover up admitting a tragic blunder?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
No, it is quite the reverse. I am exceedingly anxious that this statement should be fair to all concerned, and so I am having rechecks made. It might take a form rather surprising to the hon. Member.

§ 42. Mr. Sorensen
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received to date from Nyasaland or from this country in respect of incidents at the Blantyre Mission; and if he will state the result of his examination of the conflicting evidence in his possession.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I have received several letters which have included references to the incidents at the Blantyre Mission on 23rd February. No representations have reached me from Nyasaland.
As regards the second part of the Question, I hope the hon. Member will put the Question down again for early answer after the Easter Recess.

§ Mr. Sorensen
While, of course, appreciating the reply to the latter part of the Question, which is the same as that given in the reply to a previous Question, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has received any representations from ecclesiastical bodies in this country and Scotland?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I have had a very great number of communications on this matter of varying kinds and of different views.