§ 3. Mr. Stonehouseasked the First Secretary of State what immediate action Her Majesty's Government is taking to prevent a deterioration in the situation in Northern Rhodesia.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am not aware that the situation has deteriorated.
§ Mr. StonehouseIs not the First Secretary aware that the Constitution, which was, apparently, designed to produce deadlock, has in fact now produced deadlock? Does not the First Secretary agree that it will now be very important for the future of this territory to have a new Constitution which will allow the majority to have their wishes truly reflected? Quite apart from the need for a new Constitution, has not the result of the last election shown that the overwhelming mass of the people in the Territory are apposed to Federation, and how does the First Secretary intend to respond to that?
§ Mr. ButlerI think that the first thing for the First Secretary and the House to do is to await the result of the election. There are still ten frustrated National seats on which we hope to have some results, and there is one upper roll seat now vacant which has to be filled. It would be very wrong for me to make any further observations pending the result of the election.
§ Mr. HealeyDoes not the result of the general election already show that it is dangerous futility to rely on a Constitution expressly designed to misrepresent the state of public opinion in Northern Rhodesia, and will not the First Secretary now take steps to implement the recommendation made by the Monckton Commission more than two years ago to produce an African majority in the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. I can take no step or any decision in this until I see the result of the election.