68. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Undersecretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, since the Constitution of Southern Rhodesia contains no provision for the taking of a poll to decide upon the alteration of the Constitution, whether he will seek Parliamentary approval for the now projected poll.
§ Mr. J. FosterNo. The proposed referendum does not of course operate to amend the Southern Rhodesia Constitution. Its purpose is to ascertain the views of the Southern Rhodesian electorate on the Federation proposals. The machinery by which this is done is for the Parliament of Southern Rhodesia to decide.
69. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Undersecretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will propose that in any new Federal Public Service that may be set up for Central Africa, all grades shall be open to applicants of all races.
§ Mr. J. FosterI would refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 112 of the Federal Scheme (Cmd. 8754), which states
No person domiciled within the Federation who is a subject of Her Majesty or a person under Her Majesty's protection will on grounds of race only be ineligible for employment in the service of the Federal Government. In appointing or recommending persons for such employment regard will be had only to their competence, experience and suitability, and in determining suitability regard may be had to the circumstances of the locality in which a person would be employed.