§ 94. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress and modifications have been made in respect of the implementation of the Coussey Report on Constitutional Development in the Gold Coast.
Mr. DugdaleThe Select Committee on Electoral Methods has reported, and legislation giving effect to its recommendations has been introduced. Registration of voters is now in progress and it is expected that the first elections under the new Constitution will be held early in 1951. The administrative structure of the Government is in course of reorganisation into Ministries in preparation for the appointment of Ministers.
As a result of further consideration in the Legislative Council, the method of election of members for the Northern Territories has been modified, and all 19 members will be elected by the Northern Territories Council, which is to be specially enlarged for this purpose. It has also been agreed that the age of voters should be reduced from 25 to 21 years and that the number of representatives of special interests in the new Legislature shall be increased from two, as was recommended by the Coussey Committee, to six, with the provision that only the two should have the power to vote in the full Assembly.