§ 5. Mr. Tapsellasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to announce the date for the holding of a general election in Mauritius.
§ Mr. StonehouseIt is most desirable that elections should be held at the earliest practicable time. The completion of the electoral rolls which is expected in the near future will enable the election to be held in 1967, and during recent discussions the Premier of 1158 Mauritius confirmed that he would wish the elections to be held during next year.
§ Mr. TapsellWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that at the Constitutional Conference held some time ago now in Mauritius it was agreed that continuing political uncertainty would be damaging to the island, and he himself, I think, on a subsequent visit to the island, gave an undertaking that elections would be held as soon as physically possible. May we have an assurance that these elections will be held in the earlier rather than the later part of 1967?
§ Mr. StonehouseThere have been delays because there were disputes about the electoral system, which I had to investigate in June and July last. Following that, a team of observers for the compilation of the rolls had to be appointed and sent out to Mauritius. All that resulted in considerable delay, but I certainly hope that the election will be held within the next few months.