EMPIRE OUTPOSTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 182, 4 July 1931, Page 7

EMPIRE OUTPOSTS.

NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN RHODESIA.

AMALGAMATION PLAN

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 3. In the House of Commons to-day, the Dominions Secretary, Mr J. H. Thomas, announced that the Government had given careful consideration to a request from the Southern Rhodesian Government and the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia that a conference be held to consider the possibility of amalgamating Northern and Southern Rhodesia under a constitution similar to that of the latter. Mr Thomas said that the Government was not prepared to agree to such an amalgamation at the present time, and considered that a substantially greater advance should be made in the development of Northern Rhodesia before any final opinion could be formed as to its future.

Mr Thomas pointed out that it was less than eight years since the Government had assumed direct responsibility for the administration of Northern Rho desia. Very considerable progress had been made during these years, but greater changes, affecting the whole balance of the various interests in that country, were almost certain to result from the development of the mining industry. At present the European population was small and scattered, while the problems of native development made it inevitable that the Government should hesitate to let them pass even partially out of its responsibility. While considering that amalgamation was not practicable now or in the near future, the Government, however, did not wish to reject'the idea of amalgamation in principle should the circumstances in its opinion justify such a move later. Its view was that for some time to come Northern Rhodesia should continue to work out its destiny as a separate entity, observing the closest possible co-ordination with its neighbours, especially Southern Rhodesia. The conditions of any scheme of amalgamation, if and when it arises for actual discussion, must make definite provision for the welfare, and development' of the native population. These conclusions', added Mr Thomas, were, of course, those of the Government, but as a result of conversations which had taken place he imagined that they were likely to commend Themselves to the members of the opposition parties in the House.