South Africa.

Bush Advocate, Volume XIV, Issue 300, 21 March 1903, Page 2

South Africa.

(By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) (Received— This day, 9.30 a.m.) vCafETOWH, March. 19 Nafcal protested «galn»t tbe Johannesburg Railway Conference choosing Delagoa Bay as the Transvaal's port . in preference to Durban. The matter was compromised by the Transvaal agreeing to contribute towards the Durban harbour works, she having representatives on the Board. ; Tbe Cape Government has arranged for the free passage of one hundred Italian families ana guarantees them a certain wage. It is hoped other Italian immigrants will follow spontaneously. London, March 19. In the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain declared that in some oases tbe native Crown colonies in South Africa were insufficiently taxed. Capetolyn, March 20. The Intercolonial Conference at Bloemfontein adopted ; a resolution declaring that the natives south of the Zambesi are insufficient to meet the labour demands, and recommending the opening of the whole of British South, Central, and East Africa for recruiting ; and, if necessary, the immigration of Asiatics under, government control, strictly indented, and with provision to be repatriated at the end of their term of employment. The conference practically decided in favor of preferential customs iand a reduction of 25 per cent, on goods from Britain and from the colonies entitled to reciprocity." \ The Boer leaders indignantly rep&l recent insinuations. Delarey declares that the assurances were honestly given and will be honestly kept. London, March 20. Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, acknowledged the co-oper-ation of the Boers. He said that if the majority of the Boers and British asked for sell-government it. would be unwise to refuse it, though he considered, in the interests of the colonies, and for the protection of the minority. Crown colony government ought to be retained for a few years. Moreover, a self-governing colony would be able to decide Kaffir questions, and the' Motherland would not be able to interfere. No proposal had been made to him in reference to assisted immigration. No request had ever been made for foroed labour or Chinese labour. Tbe accusations that the Boers illtreated the natives had been exaggerated, bftt tbe natives who 4 were formerly taxed eighty-six shillings and sixpence were now taxed forty shillings, and those who had more than one wife forty shillings for each wife,, beyond one. Mr Chamberlain spoke hopefully of the supply of native labour, and suggested recreations which would brighten their lives and attract them to the Sand as had been done in Kataberlejr. In the House of Caramons, Mr Chamberlain, speaking on the proposed vote of £20,000,000 on account of the Civil Service, replying to numerous interrogations, during which he was warmly cheered, said daring his tour in South Africa be received one hundred and fifty deputations, and interviewed 500 representatives of all parties and shades of opinion. Besides the grant covered by the Vereeniging settlement, grants to Britishers, and payments of military receipts for Britain's liability— including £6,000,000 cover for Lord Roberts and other generals' proclamations of piotection— the total liability thus far was £ls,oo,ooo. The surplus of the two colonies for 1902 would exceed very largely the cost of the charges of the two loans. The Transvaal loan was not contingent on anjr other arrangement direct or indirect. He stated that the Foreign ! Office intended to allow natives to be recruited experimentally in Central Africa for the mines. The settlement of the new colonies was progressing marvellously. One hundred thousand people had been replaced on farms and would be assisted temporarily. (Received— This day, 8.60 a.m.) Capetown, March 20, The Bloemfontein conference advocated the total prohibition of the s*le of liquor to natives, and resolved that State reservations and native State reservations of land for natives involved i obligations on the part of the natives themselves.