asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many people were eligible to vote at the first election to the Kumasi Town Council, that was held on 21st September, 1943; and how many actually voted.

The approximate number of persons eligible for registration as voters in Kumasi is 14,600. The number of voters registered is 3,805, of whom 828 voted at the September election.

In view of these remarkable figures, what steps have been taken to bring the attention of the people of Kumasi to their voting responsibilities?

The local Press paid a great deal of attention to this extraordinarily small poll, and urged that it did not show a very great regard for the responsibilities of citizenship.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the percentage of voters is approximately the same as that for the last council elections in this country?

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Commissioner for Ashanti is very satisfied with this new experiment and with the remarkable progress which has been made in Kumasi in regard to social responsibility?

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not encourage the idea that this is really satisfactory. It is only a start.