Mr. David Adamsasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as the law confers upon the Governor of Jamaica in Council a general power to prohibit the importation of any publication if he considers such importation to be contrary to the public interest, and as general resentment is expressed in Jamaica against the Undesirable Literature Bill, he will refuse to endorse the same?
§ Mr. George HallThe introduction of this Measure in Jamaica is in order to prevent the importation of subversive publications which have been arriving in that Colony in increasing quantities. The legislation confers upon the Governor-in-Council a general power to prohibit the importation of any publications if he
634Wthe importance to shopkeepers and firms who can no longer carry large stocks to obtain quick replies?
§ Captain WaterhouseThough the revised postal services which were introduced throughout the country in November last are inferior to those which the Post Office was able to give before the war, the existing services between London and the towns mentioned which are as follow are regarded as reasonable.
considers such importation to be contrary to the public interest. Legislation of this kind has been in force in certain other Colonies for some time, and the introduction in Jamaica of this particular Measure is the outcome of suggestions made in 1938 by the Secretary of State at that time to all the Colonial Dependencies. In the circumstances my Noble Friend sees no reason to take exception to this legislation.