§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is proposed to introduce a nonracial electoral system in Fiji.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, the system of election in Fiji is part of the new Constitution introduced in 1966. Her Majesty's Government are always ready to consider proposals for further constitutional changes if and when the people of Fiji so desire.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask whether it is not the case that in 1965 the then Colonial Secretary, Mr. Greenwood, indicated that this division of the electorate into racial groups would be only temporary? Is there a single other Colony in the whole of the world where the people are divided into racial groups for electoral purposes? Is this not quite wrong in principle, and does it not tend to increase racial differences?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, paragraph 5 of the Report of the Constitutional Conference reads as follows:
Her Majesty's Government for their part recognised that elections on a straight Common Role was not practical for Fiji until a greater degree of integration of the communities had been achieved. They made clear, however, the importance they attach to introducing a system whereby some Members 1538 would be both elected by and responsible to electors drawn from all communities.There is still this deep division in Fiji and clearly if we are to have a change it must come from a broad agreement by the two political Parties and other communities. But I think one should recognise, as I am sure my noble friend does, that the system by which the Island is divided into three and the electors are required to return three Members drawn from the three communities is a major step towards achieving a multiracial society in Fiji.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while again thanking my noble friend for his Answer, is it not the case that the number of Cross-Bench Members who are elected otherwise than on a racial basis is significant within the Assembly? Is it not also the case that in Fiji (and one is glad to recognise this) there is great racial harmony, despite all the economic differences, which is promising? Does not this system of three different races having the right to elect only persons of their own race rather stabilise the system than encourage racial harmony?
§ LORD SHEPHERDNo, my Lords. I believe that the innovation introduced under this Constitution was a major step towards the multiracial society that we wish to see there. But there are still deep divisions, and until we can overcome those I find it hard to see how we can change the present Constitution.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, does not my noble friend think, as Sidney Webb said years ago, that to have a period of gradualism is the best course? Is it not recognised that we cannot superimpose on indigenous people a democracy that we here have taken so long to build? They have to grow into it.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I think I would agree with my noble friend, although I am not sure about gradualism.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, can my noble friend tell me whether there is also sex discrimination in the franchise?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords I believe that the Common Role includes all adults in Fiji.
§ LORD MILVERTONMy Lords, in view of the Question and the nature of Her Majesty's Government's Answer, would not Her Majesty's Government 1539 agree that there is involved in this matter a serious and complex problem and one, incidentally, among other important issues, involving the honour of the British Government? Is it not regrettable that a Question couched in the meretricious simplicity of this Question, and concealing behind it a series—
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, if I may interrupt the noble Lord I would point out that it is not the custom of this House to make imputations about other Lords.
§ LORD MILVERTONMy Lords, with due respect to the noble Lord the Leader of the House, may I say that I listened to two speeches from the noble Lord who asked this Question, who was not at all interrupted in the course of them. May I conclude by asking whether it is not impossible for this matter to be given adequate consideration in anything less than a full-dress debate, and therefore is not a Question of this kind regrettable?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I would not accept that. I would, however, agree with the noble Lord that Her Majesty's Government and the British Parliament have a deep responsibility for racial harmony in Fiji, in the same way as we have in Rhodesia.