UNION OF EAST AFRICA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 566, 19 January 1929, Page 9

UNION OF EAST AFRICA

COMMISSION RECOMMENDS UNIQUE GOVERNMENT (United Service) Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Friday. A new union of East Africa, involving the vast territories of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, with an area of nearly 700,000 square miles, is suggested in the report of the Sir Hilton Young Commission, which proposes a unique: form of government, which, if it proves successful, “may be found capable of application to other parts of the Empire.” The elevation of East Africa to the status of a Union will be gradual. First, a High Commissioner will be appointed, with executive powers over i:he three territories, to determine how blacks and whites can best live and work together without injustice to either. Lat€:r, the commissioner will be rereplaced by a Governor-General, whose chief duties will be to secure Imperial interests, and supervise the working of the native policy. The Commission thinks the administration should be by a commission, and rejects the constitutional device of a 'federation. The members declare themselves against responsible government for Kenya, and add: “The territories of Eastern Africa as a whole can never be white men’s countries, but they form important outposts of British civilisation and are capable of doing great good. “Therefore the quality of the settlers is more important than quantity.” Regarding the constitution of Kenya, the Commission recommends that ’Lhe native interests should be directly represented on the Legislative Council by nominated Europeans.