§ 77. Mr. R. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Sierra Leone House of Representatives decided, on Wednesday 27th March, 1957, to debar from becoming candidates persons who have been convicted for an offence in a court of law or have been debarred from following their professions; and, in view of the fact that persons with records of public service whose offences have arisen 130W from patriotic motives will, in consequence, be excluded from this representative body, if he will take steps to ensure that this decision be rescinded or amended before the general election in Sierra Leone.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am aware that the Legislative Council of Sierra Leone rejected by 16 votes to 3 a Motion seeking to secure reconsideration of the provisions on this subject which appear in the Sierra Leone (House of Representatives) Order in Council, 1956. I do not think it would be right to override that vote. This is primarily a matter for the people of Sierra Leone themselves, and if after the impending general election a different view were expressed in the new House of Representatives, I would be prepared to consider it afresh.