SOUTH AFRICAN INDIANS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25608, 24 September 1948, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICAN INDIANS

bill to abolish franchise

amendment by general SMUTS LOST

CAPE TOWN, Sept. 22. the ?nH? eople of South Africa regard art/ 001311 population as a threat to te r (Tv? u ?5 r ' T ’ ’ said the Prime T’misbiu U- F. Malan) speaking on a Indi wft ich repeals the provision for reSentation in the Union ftipnt alan sai d that to grant parliatiSKZ representation to 150,000 In«1> mh oUld start an agitation among Ponni T rs sec tions of the non-European Inji ’"tion for similar treatment. The by fa “ ad 9 ome from another couniPut 7c n P orar ily. and they continually |coun2, eir mF rievances before another h ‘ The Indians must be satisfied I emain in South Africa under re-

strictions. The Government would not neglect them whdn they remained in their own areas.

General Smuts moved an amendment that the bill be referred to a select committee for consideration and report. He said: “The Indians of South Africa are a settled, permanent part oi our own population. Many will not agree to be repatriated and you cannot send them out of the country by force.”

General Smuts’s amendment was rejected by 63 votes to 58 and the bill passed the second reading by 63 votes to 54.