By Earl Moxam, Snr. Gleaner WriterMARCH 22, 1949. What turned out to be quite a hot debate in the House of Representatives started out quietly enough, with Frank Pixley, Jamaica Labour Party member for Central Kingston, presenting the Report of the Select Committee on proposals for advancing the Political Constitution.
The Report reflected, in large measure, the recommendations of the minority People's National Party (PNP). These recommendations included a proposal for substantially increasing the number of constituencies. The PNP envisaged this being accomplished in two ways - first by giving the parishes of St. Elizabeth and St. Ann an additional seat each, up from their existing two seats, and secondly, through the creation of 14 additional seats, "the candidates for which should be elected on a parish instead of a constituency basis."
A far more controversial item, however, related to calls for greater Self-Government. This proposal really got Roy Lindo from St. Mary, East, going. He gravely warned that if Jamaica were to seek complete independence from England "we are liable to lose thereby what little consideration still rests with us", including, he said, the favourable price enjoyed for the sale of sugar.
There were, he said, certain members of the British House of Commons, who were quite willing to preside over the dismemberment of the British Empire, and who would be encouraged in their resolve by any such proposal coming from Jamaica.
Alexander Bustamante picked up on that warning immediately, claiming that the Self-Government proposal was drawn up by "the twisted brain" of Norman Manley, president of the PNP.
MORE TEARS
"The Majority Party has no intention or desire to ask or demand of the Imperial Government that we should have complete Self-Government now... If we were to get completely separated from England or the British Empire, although we would possess greater freedom than we possess today, our freedom would bring us not alone more poverty, but more tears. Secondly, we are not proving to the Imperial Government that we are fit and proper persons to govern ourselves", he warned.
At this assertion, the PNP's Florizel Glasspole laughed, while Dr. Ivan Lloyd, with great indignation advised the Majority Leader to "Talk about yourself!"
But Bustamante was not quite finished. Self-Government he said would only be good for a few, "so that corn could be thrown at the doors of hungry chickens and they would swallow it up and the great majority would suffer."
"No well thinking or honest person who was interested in this country more than they are in themselves could rise here and face the public honestly with a clear conscience and say the reason why we want self-government at once is for the betterment of the country", he thundered.
Furthermore, he warned that Self-Government "would be a calamity and catastrophe to the very same people who are being deceived, for if there were complete Self-Government, a part of the policy would be that the churches would be converted into garages and workshops!"
That was going just a bit too far for Florizel Glasspole who shouted: "Nonsense! Rubbish! Foolish!"
One of the arguments raised by those opposed to the proposal for Self-Government was that it would also mean a break from the British Commonwealth. Glasspole, in his rebuttal, asserted that this was plainly not so.
BOGIES
I don't see any report from the report of the Select Committee that there is any breaking away from the British Commonwealth of Nations. Why pose these bogies at this stage", he argued. In that regard he pointed to Australia, Canada and New Zealand, which, though self-governing, remained within the Commonwealth. "What we (the PNP) want is Self-Government with our own rights within the British Commonwealth of Nations", he affirmed.
Parliament's Legislative Council, or Upper House, was also in the sights of the PNP for reform. It was Dr. Ivan Lloyd of Eastern St. Ann who took up this proposal in the debate.
He contended that the real reason behind the desire of some to retain this non-elected legislative chamber was to provide "political sanctuary for a class of people in this country who refuse to live in peace, love and harmony with the masses in Jamaica... If any man living in this country does not want to live close to the people of this country, he has no business in the Legislature at all. If he cannot live sufficiently close to them so that he can win their respect, regard and affection, I hold that no power should be put in the hands of the Governor to railroad these people into your legislature and having them interfering with the laws of the country."
BY THE FRONT DOOR
Retaining the non-elected Upper House, Dr. Lloyd argued, "perpetuates division, dissension and discrimination and until we have a fully elected legislature as we have in the United States of America they do not nominate anybody to the Senate... There should be no back door to Headquarters House (the then parliament building). We want everybody come in by the front door and coming in by the will of the people."
Dr. Lloyd concluded with a rousing appeal: "Let us move along the democratic road without fear and with some courage and self-reliance. Give the people an opportunity to put a Government here, a Government that represents them."
Alexander Bustamante was not quite moved by that appeal to sentiment. The Lord he said, had set an example for the world: "He could have taken one minute or even one second to build this world, but he built it in six days. I believe that when the Lord did this... he was setting an example for us sinners. And so I prefer to follow the Lord's example by going a little slow."
