§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether every candidate in Southern Rhodesia who stood for a continuance of Chartered Company administration was defeated in the recent elections; whether this decision fulfils the paramount condition for the grant of responsible government as set forth in the Supplemental Charter; whether any petition has yet been received from the responsible leaders of Southern Rhodesia for the grant of any such form of government; and, if so, whether any answer has yet been sent to Rhodesia?
§ Colonel L. WILSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the Supplemental Charter of 1914 provides that should His Majesty think fit, he may 2031W establish responsible government, if the Legislative Council by an absolute majority of the whole number of its members pass a resolution praying the Crown to establish responsible government and support such resolution with evidence showing that the condition of the territory financially and otherwise is such as to justify the establishment of that form of Government. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer to the answer which I gave on the 1st instant to a question by the hon. Member for the Stafford Division (Mr. Ormsby-Gore).