SOUTH AFRICA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICA.

CLOSERUNITY. KATAL AGAINST "RUSHINC IT." LANGUAGE TEST. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTRIGHT. (Rec. May 11, 9.54 p.m.) Durban, May. 11. Vehement opposition 'to unification, as a form of tho closer union of South Africa, has arisen in Natal, whoro the Customs Conference at Pretoria, is accused of shamelessly attempting to rush the question. Tho "Natal Mercury", declares that Natil. is able to' stand alone and refuses to bo coerced. - •; . THE CONVENTION,

proportion or; delegates. (Rec. May 12,0.5.aim.)'" ' ' " " J . Pretoria, May 11. The Pretoria Conference has arranged that tho.National Convention to deal with'the question of union will consist of twelve dele-, gates from Capo Colony, eight from tho Transvaal, and five each from Natal and Orango River Colony. ■ ' . , London, May 11. The Johannesburg correspondent of "The Times" says that tlio Conference desires to concentrate all the power. It. has, decided ihat the courso of events after the Convention shall be in the hands of'the Government, .not the Parliaments of South Africa. A draft of tho proposed new Civil Service law has booh issued in * Pretoria. It empowers tho Government"to.request that,any official shall'qualify in Dutph' and English within twelve months. ■' , •' ■ A correspondent, who recently drew tho attention of the Colonial Secretary to the alleged discrimination by tho Transvaal Government in favour of the Dutch against tho British, received a letter from, the Colonial Office stating that Lord Elgin " does not think that the Transvaal' Government in requiring, polico and other officials'in the country'districts: to learn Dutch is unfairly discriminating agaiiist those of British, descent,' in view of the fact that a large proportion of the inhabitants of the country districts have little or no acquaintance with 'English." . . •