THE TRANSVAAL PARLIAMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 28, 2 August 1906, Page 2

THE TRANSVAAL PARLIAMENT.

(By Electric Telegraph— Copyright) (Per Press Association.) Received August 2, 10 a.m. London, Wednesday. The Colonial Secretary, Lord Elgin, in explaining the new constitution in the House of Lords, said he would not have been satisfied had he not felt that British interests in their widest sense were safe under tiie projected form of government. Both in tiie Honse of Lords and the House of Commons the Opposition declined responsibility in respect to the new constitution. Unionists — especially Lord Milner, ! Lord Lansdowne, and Mr Lyttelton— blamed the Government for rash precipitation in making promises before it knew the facts. Liberal speakers claimed that the Government was acting after mature inquiry. The Government, nevertheless, admitted, that the report of Sir J. W. Ridgway's Committee was only signed yesterday, and had not been considered in its final form. Lords Alfred Milner and Leonard Courtney agreed that single member constituencies were likely to increase the cleavage between Britain and Boer. Both preferred proportional representation. [Mr Leonard Courtney wss elevated to the Peerage on Jnne 29th. He was Chairman of Commiti'ess snd Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons 1886-92, and was a leader of the ProBoers during the South African war.} In the House of Cotomens, Sir Alfred Lyttelton declared 'that the presence of the German troops and many Boer volunteers lft. German West Africa ought to- have been considered bef bre ithe Transvaal was given self-government. Reducing our power so soon alter the war, in the event of disturbance in Europe, the propinquity cf ithose troops would probably be a serious faction. He said the Government was anxious to transfer to the Transvaal their responsibilities with regard to the Chinese. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour denounced manhood suffrage as an obstaole — any coloured suffrage was also an obstaole — to federation ; but above all, the granting of self-government without the usual transitional period was most dangerous. He added : "1 1 am astonished at so unprecedented, audacious and reckless an experiment. The memories of the Dutch are memories of war ; their memories are of independence, which preceded the war. They are human, and how can we ask them to change their sentiment ? Can the political institution about to be given be nude a substitute for the military organisation which brought them honorably into the field in 1896 during the Jamieson raid ? * There was nothing to prevent the country quietly preparing for a new war. What animates them cannot be deliberate preference for the new over the old state of things. I believe it will come in time, but you are asking the Dutch to do what you are not likely to do iffin their place. " The hour for the closure approaching, the Prime Minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, rose angrily, and said he had never listened to a more unworthy,mischievious and provocative speech. This speech was greeted with loud Opposition protests and cries of " Shame," « Withdraw," and Ministerial counter cheers. The vote was carried by 316 to 83. The comments of the newspapers are guarded, owing to the momentous issues of the Government's policy. The Times bespeaks courage and determination for the British in the Transvaal and to do their best under the new conditions. The tone of tiie Liberal organs is half apologetic. The Daily Chroniole admits the prospect of a very narrow majority and the drawback involved in granting manhood suffrage. Tho Daily News declares the consti- 1 tution is a compromise, the best features being the automatio expiry of the Chinese ordinance. The Morning Post says a number of Unionists welcome the general outlines of the Government scheme, bnt if the Boers' action is incompatible witii loyalty to the Crown, both British political parties will unite against them. Lord Alfred Milner deolared the Government had precipitately vested the placing of the whole of the executive power in the hands of men totally unfit for it. Sir West Ridgeway is confident that all parties in the Transvaal will loyally support the constitution. Mr W. T. Stead says it is evident the Boers, with British sympathisers, will command a permanent majority in the Transvaal. Many Unionist members and Chambers of Commerce urge tiie leaders that they will lose a nation, believing the Government policy will drive the Boers to seek the Kaiser's assistance for South African federation. As a result of Mr Winston Churchill's speech, the London Stook 'Exchange opened nervously, but afterwards steadied. South Africans are flat and a shade easier. The Daily Mail says the Government's complete surrender of all results of the war justified Smut's prediction that the Boers get from the Liberals all they fought for. The Colonial Under-Secretary stated in the House of Commons that twenty Boer families who traversed a large part of the Afrioan oontinent to escape British rule have recently moved from German territory, and have applied lor land in the British East African ProI teotorate.