Oral Answers to Questions — British Guiana. – in the House of Commons at on 17 December 1941.
asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the Chairman of the Franchise Commission in British Guiana has resigned; what progress has been made with the work of the Commission; and, in view of the Chairman's resignation, will he take the opportunity to add more independent members to the Commission?
The first Chairman of the Commission resigned owing to ill-health. There have been eight meetings of the Commission, three under the first Chairman and the remainder under the present Chairman. There was some delay at the outset owing to controversy over the terms of reference, but lately meetings have been held once a week. As my hon. Friend was informed in reply to a Question on 1st October, there are already 23 members of this Commission. They are fully representative of all sections of the population, and my Noble Friend sees no reason to suggest to the Governor the addition of other persons.
May we be informed how near the Committee is to the completion of its labours, and if there is still some time to go, cannot the point that I put be reconsidered?
It is impossible to say how long the Commission will take; nevertheless, it is impossible to add any more to its numbers. As a matter of fact it is now suggested that the number is too large.