Dr. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in the new Constitution announced for the government of the Island of Trinidad, British West Indies, it is laid down that there shall be no further constitutional changes till 1948; whether the present comparatively high property franchise is still to hold; whether he is aware that the announcement of this Constitution has been received with great misgiving and resentment; and when will copies of the proposed constitutional changes be available for Members of the House?
§ Mr. George HallI am glad to have this opportunity of removing a misapprehension which appears to have gained currency regarding the scope of the proposed reform of the Constitution of Trinidad. As my lion. Friend is aware, Lord Lloyd accepted for early action certain recommendations submitted by the Governor of Trinidad with the agreement of the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council. These were that the Legislative Council should be reconstituted, first, by the removal of nine out of 12 Official Members now on the Legislative Council, and secondly by the addition of two Elected Members, and that there should be set up a Franchise Committee which should also consider the question of Members' qualifications. It is not intended that action on the findings of the Franchise Committee should be deferred until after 1948, but that if possible they should be put into effect in time for the next elections which are due in 1943. It was suggested by the Governor, with the concurrence of Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council, that apart from the1162W matters mentioned above, any further constitutional changes should be deferred until after 1948, that is until there had been five years' experience with the reconstituted Council elected on such new franchise as may result from the work of the franchise committee. While the proposals have been generally welcomed in Trinidad, I am aware that there has been some criticism, but some at least of this appears to have been based on misapprehension of their nature. I am not at present in a position to say when it will be possible to give the House any further particulars.