§ 2.38 p.m.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SIMONDS)My Lords, with your Lordships' permission, I should like to say a few words about the recent inauguration of the new Legislature of Nigeria. As your Lordships know, a new Constitution has been introduced in Nigeria which provides for the full participation by Nigerians in the conduct of their affairs. At the invitation of Her Majesty's Government, a delegation of Members of both Houses of Parliament went, under the auspices of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, to Nigeria to attend the opening ceremonies of the new Legislature.
The delegation consisted of two Members of another place and one Member of your Lordships' House, the noble Lord, Lord Clydesmuir. They took with them a personal message of good will from the Speaker and myself to the new Legislature, and the reply which I have received is in such graceful and moving terms that I should like, if your Lordships will allow me, to read it out. The reply is in the form of a Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of Nigeria on March 11, 1952. It is in these terms:
That this House of Representatives of the people of Nigeria, deeply appreciating the friendship and good wishes of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, expresses its thanks for the message sent them by the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker. In thanking the three Members of that Parliament who have travelled so far to carry the message, the House of Representatives asks them on their return to the United Kingdom to convey to their respective Houses, which together constitute the oldest Assembly in the Commonwealth, a message of affection and esteem from the new Parliament of Nigeria, founded on the principles which have made the Parliament at Westminster an inspiration to the free peoples of the world.34 The Resolution is signed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives of Nigeria. I thought that your Lordships would like me to read it to the House.