JNF-The-Working-Class-Struggle-of-Half-a-Century

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no change be made in
the constitution of the presidency.
The counter- motion was put to the vote and carried , 4 for 3 against.
Then the original motion (for the proposal) was put to the vote and lost.
Thus it went on the records that the cause for political reform suffered a
set-back.
But that was not the end of the issue. One of the unofficials
from Nevis gave notice of his intention to forward a protest to the Secretary
of the State.
Onward!
Two days after the meeting, a petition from taxpayers and others in the
territory was rushed to London. In it, stress was laid on some important
facts. The Council had disregarded the expressed views of the large
majority of the people and accepted the views of the minority.
It was submitted that the decision of the Council rejecting the
proposal was open to objection from a legal point of view. The following
was cited, In June 1934 the Council unanimously adopted a resolution
accepting the introduction of the elective principle into the constitution
of the Presidency. Without even having rescinded that decision
the said session of the Legislature, on 13 th December makes another
decision, opposite in effect, on self-same subject. The novel position is
thus created of the Council having on record two decisions on the same
question, both for all practical purposes being in effect. In our view this
procedure is irregular.
The somersault of the unofficial members was beyond the understanding
of many. Once again anxious eyes cast towards London.
The shock galvanized the stalwarts of the Labour Movement to press on
for political reform. Rightly, the Secretary of State was regarded as a
“Court of Appeal.” He functioned as a safety valve in the British Colonial
System. It was known that contacts made with London officials
were some times not without value. Eighteen years earlier it was necessary
to make quick contacts with London on another issue. This was
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