asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has considered the resolutions passed at a large meeting of the organised workers of British Guiana asking that the general elections for seats in the Legislative Council shall be postponed from the autumn of this year until the requisite changes have been made in the Constitution to extend the franchise and reduce substantially the margin between the qualifications for registration as a voter and those for membership of the Legislative Council; and what is the nature of his reply;

I have not received the British Guiana resolutions to which the hon. Member refers. The recommendations of the Royal Commission referred to in these Questions are among those on which I have asked Governors for their early observations, and the hon. Member may rest assured that when these are received I shall give them my early consideration, and I shall certainly bear in mind the points which he mentions.

As the Government have been asked to deal with these things quickly, may I ask whether they are likely to receive the Governor's report quickly enough to enable these things to be done before the annual elections, so that the elections may take place in better conditions and under the extended franchise?

I have asked for the observations of the Governor at an early date, and I expect to receive them in the next few weeks. With regard to the second part of the Supplementary Question, I will bear that consideration in mind in determining what will happen about the date of the election.

Would it not be possible to do this, immediately the report is received, without legislation?

It would be possible, certainly, without legislation in this House to postpone the elections.