NEW APARTHEID MOVE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27993, 13 June 1956, Page 13

NEW APARTHEID MOVE

“Vicious Bill” Passed In South Africa

(New Zealand Press Association)

(Rec. 10 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, June 12. Opposition members of Parliament yesterday branded as “most vicious” a new Nationalist Government Bill empowering local authorities to remove Africans from towns to locations if they were considered dangerous to peace and order.

The leader of the minority Labour Party (Mr Alexander Hepple) said it would turn South African locations into “Siberia” for a large number of Africans.

The new bill would amend an act already controlling the movement of natives in urban areas. The Opposition called for its rejection, but it was adopted after a second reading by 54 votes to 29.

The Minister for Native Affairs (Mr Hendrik Verwoerd) told the House of Assembly the bill was justified, as local authorities claimed that dangerous conditions existed from "agitators” in their areas.

Dr.‘ Douglas Smit. a former Secretary for Native Affairs and a leader of the Opposition United Party, described the bill as another addition to the "disreputable list" of Mr Verwoerd's measures against Africans. . ,

Dr. Smit said a native could be ordered to leave an area with no provision where he was to go or to state his case. There was also no definition of conduct regarded as detrimental to peace and order and the procedure was left to local authorities.

Nationalist Party speakers said banished Africans would have the right of appeal through the Courts.