§ [The reference is to Bill (86) as printed for the House of Lords.]
§ Clause 1, page 1, line 9, leave out subsections (2) and (3) and insert—
§
("(2) For sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph I of the said Schedule (which relates to the qualifications for being chosen to fill a seat in the Legislature) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraph—
(b) is, in the case of a seat in the House of Representatives not less than twenty-one years of age, and, in the case of a seat in the Senate, not less than thirty years of age; and
§ (3) In paragraph 12 of the said Schedule (which relates to the qualification for being chosen to hold a seat in the Senate), the following provisions shall be omitted, that is to say—
- (a) heads (i) and (ii) of sub- paragraph (1); and
- (b) sub-paragraphs (2) and (3).").
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, this Amendment will make two changes in the Bill. First, it will lower the age of eligibility for candidates for the House of Representatives and the Senate in Burma. The qualifying age will be reduced, in the case of the House of Representatives, from 25 to 21 years of age, and in the case of the Senate, from 35 to 30 years of age. Secondly, it will remove altogether the property qualification prescribed hitherto for candidates for the Senate. This Amendment, if adopted, will leave the public service in Burma as the sole qualification, other than age and British nationality, for those who wish to stand for the Senate. I beg to move that the House agree with this Amendment.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(The Earl of Listowel).
§ LORD ALTRINCHAMMy Lords, we have no desire on this side of the House to quarrel with the Commons in this 293 matter, but it would be interesting to know why these Amendments were introduced at this stage. Have representations been made by the Government of Burma in the matter, or what is the reason that these provisions were not in the original Bill?
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I can answer the noble Lord quite briefly. The Governor of Burma was consulted on both the changes I have just described, and he approved of their inclusion in the Bill, provided, of course, that that was the desire expressed in another place. When this matter was debated in the other place, it was evident that a number of members on both sides of the House thought that these changes were appropriate.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.