§ 59. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans are registered on the ordinary and special rolls for the territorial elections in Northern Rhodesia and how many Africans are registered in Nyasaland; and what is the proportion of such voters to the total adult African population in each territory.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe present constitutional arrangements for Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland do not include the election of Legislative Councils by voters registered on ordinary and special rolls, and the Question does not therefore arise. But as hon. Members will know, such elections have been proposed for Northern Rhodesia for the future.
In anticipation of this change the Legislative Council Ordinance, 1958, passed last month, provides for a central registering officer to prepare an electoral roll for which ordinary and special qualifications have been prescribed. Although registration is proceeding, the stage has not yet 185W been reached when this officer can begin to prepare the roll. In any event, until the other constitutional changes proposed come into effect, no election held can be based on this new roll.