§ 81. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken to implement his undertaking of 8th May to amend the Order in Council of 1924 which prohibits Africans from holding title deeds in land, houses and shops in Northern Rhodesia, and allow the Protectorate Government to introduce a Bill enabling them to issue leases to Africans for residential and trading plots in municipal and African township areas.
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§ Mr. ProfumoThe Order in Council did not prohibit the assignment of land on lease to Africans. It did, however, in practice make it impossible for Government to give leases to Africans owing to the fact that it contained provisions designed originally for the protection of Africans which prevented the normal enforcement of the conditions and convenants of leases in the ordinary form. As I informed the House in the Adjournment debate on 8th November, a new Order in Council which deals with the point was made in September.