UNION PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 9

UNION PARLIAMENT.

SOUTH AFRICA AFFAIRS. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH THE PROTECTION POLICY. (By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyright ) (Received 2 p.m.) CAPETOWN, January 22. Earl of.Ath.lone (Governor-General of the Union of Soum Africa), opening the Union Parliament, said it was pleasing to note the. improvement in the general condition of the Union. The industrial life of the Union was responding satisfactorily to the stimulus of the protectoin policy adopted by the country, and good progress was being made with agriculture. The long-continued absence of general rains over the whole of the country, however, was causing considerable anxiety with regard to this year's harvest. Dealing with the Asiatic question, the Governor-General's Speech, proceeds: "For the purpose of securing healthier relations between the various elements oi the population and safeguarding the proper economic development of the country, a bill will be introduced for the reservation to various classes of persons, areas for residential and trading purposes, and for amending the registration and immigration laws in certain respects." With regard to the native question, the Speech says: "The question Las been engaging the serious attention of the Ministers. It is felt that a speed} , solution of this great problem is essential to the well-being of both the European and native populations in the Union, and bills will be laid before Parliament during the present session dealing with its more important aspects; but owing to the weighty character and great national importance of these measures, Ministers do not contemplate proceeding with them beyond "a preliminary stage durinp the present session."—(A. anc! N.Z. Cable.)