SOUTH AFRICA.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 285, 5 June 1909, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

Press Assn— By telegraph— Copyright. CAPETOWN, yesterday. Referring to the statements, made by Colonel Seely in the House of Commons, ■ that amendments to the ■ South African Constitution would possibly be made in London, Mr J. Merriman, at Capetown, .-described it as a typical • official \speech,: loosed off with--out regard to colonial feeling. Col. Seely's speech 'was 'more amazing, because he was the spokesman of the party which attaclcedf.Mr Ciiamber]ain, when the . Commonwealth Bill was before the House of Commons, for introducing amendments at variance with Australian views'. Mr J: W. '.Saner- declared as surely as the sun shines, that once union is accomplished they will not tolerate 1 interference in their- affairs. The Cokaiia.l Office has issued an 'explanation that it is not intended to interfere with the constitution except, in technical phraseology;. : CAP^ETO^'N, yesterday. The Assembly J,at. Capetown, Mr Sehriener "and Sir' Gordon Sprigg dissenting, adopted, the constitution. PRETORIA, yesterday. General Botha, in the Assembly at Pretoria,- declared the union" was . nearly wrecked at; the late Bloemfonteim Conference, Transvaal only abandoned proportional representation in the face of the gravest opposition). , : ■;,' Other speakers' '.emphasised disappointment at" the withdrawal of proportional representation. -.' • '(Received t-his day, 8.30 a.m.), .DURBAN, to-day. Natal takes a referendum upon the ■constitution next week.'