Federal Members (Southern and Northern Provinces)
Oral Answers to Questions — Nyasaland

Mr Fenner Brockway (Eton and Slough)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action the Government of Nyasaland propose to meet the situation arising from the unanimous decisions of the African Councils of the Southern and Northern Provinces to elect no further members to the Federal Parliament.

Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd (Mid Bedfordshire)

None, Sir. I would remind the hon. Member that the body designated by the Governor of Nyasaland for the purposes of Article 13 (3) of the Federal Constitution as a body representative of Africans is not confined to the present members of these two councils.

Mr Fenner Brockway (Eton and Slough)

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the opinion of these councils reflects a very considerable proportion of opinion among Africans in Nyasaland? In view of that fact, will he look carefully at this situation and, when the time comes, apply the Preamble of the Federal Act, which requires that the inhabitants of a territory shall endorse the review?

Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd (Mid Bedfordshire)

We certainly consider seriously what the body says, but the body designated includes all members—past and present—of the three African provincial councils, and the Question refers only to the present members of two of the councils.