CLOSER UNION IN EAST AFRICA

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1931, Page 6

CLOSER UNION IN EAST AFRICA

TIME NOT .OPPORTUNE,

FIELD FOR, CO-OPERATION OiPEN.

JOINT COMMITTEE REPORTS

(British Official Wireless.;

RUGBY, November 2.

The report of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament appointed to consider the reports already made by commissions on the Subject of dloser union in East Africa, and the Government’s conclusions thereon, were published to-day. The Joint Committee, which salt under* the chairmanship of Lord Onslow, concludes that the present is not the time for taking any farreaohing step towards formal union, nevertheless, outside all questions of formal union, the committee considers that there is a very real field for cooperation and co-ordination, Tilts can be affected in economic and scientific services without political' or constitutional union, and involves the reation of a super-structure over the three Governments and legislatures concerned. The subjects of such cooperation suggested aire transport, customs duties and] administration, scientific and technical services, and posts and telegraphs. The Committee affirms its belief in the value of white settlement as an important element in the progress of East Africa.

To effect the closer union of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika, and promote better and more uniform administration, various British Governments have appointed commissions to make recommendations, the most important being that of Sir Hilton Young, in 1028. When appointing the present Joint Committee to examine the Government’s proposals, Lord Passfield, then Secretary of the Colonies, issued papers containing the proposals for closer union and a definite statement of Britain’s policy regarding the native races of East Africa.

Uganda is a Protectorate; Tanganyika is a mandated territory, which must be administered according to the terms of the mandate; a small coaist strip °f Kenya is a Protectorate, hut the main part of the territory is a colony.

The Government proposed to establish a High Commissioner, who would act as chief adviser on native and other policy to the Secretary of State, receiving from the Legislative Councils already in existence drafts of all Jj|s, Biudget a(nd communications with the Colonial Office. He would have power to suspend proposed measures, and to instruct local legislatures to initiate any measures he might consider necessary. The High Commissioner would administer certain transferred services, as Follows:—Railways, (lake navigation, air and motor services, ports and harbours, Customs, defence, posts and telegraphs, extradition, central research, and the trade and information office in London. In these matters he would be assisted by a council of three officers of his staff and twenty-one members representing the three territories. In order •to meet any objection to the effect that the interests of the natives of any minority were not sufficiently safe-guarded, it would be competent for any three members of the country to insist upon any proposed measure being suspended while being referred to London to ascertain His Majesty’s pleasure. The statement of British policy as regards natives in East Africa deals with political and social developments, security of native land tenure and assistance in cultivation, the abolition of compulsory labour, and the obligation to avoid excessive taxation. The general principle is accepted that the relation “is one of trusteeship which cannot he devolved, and from winch they (the British Government) cannot be relieved.”