"TRUST THE UNION."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 590, 19 August 1909, Page 5

"TRUST THE UNION."

: SOUTH AFRICAN BILL. COMMONS ACCEPTS COLOUR BAR. ' I SOME PROTESTS. {By Abbool&Uoq.—OoDjrlcbU London, August 17. . In the House of Commons, the second reading of the' Africa : TJnion Bill was carried without , a division, and the measure was roforred to a; Committee of the whole House.'..;' ,"V'', In the'courso of the debate,-Sir Charlos Dilkoj Liberal; member for the Forest of Doan; doplorcd tho- ercction of a terriblo bar against coloured people' who, but for their descent, would 1)6 eligible for membership of tho new Parliament. Amendment Would Smash the Union. : . Colonel Under-Secretary . for tho Colonies, in charge of the' Bill; warned the Houso. that if ,tho words "of European - .descent',' werestruck; out, the Union would bo -smashed. Mr. Alfred, Lytteltpn,-who, was Colonial Secretary in ''tho - Balfour Government,- regretted, that'th©-colour bar had been set up, but, said .thefe' was nothing to., prevent the . Union Parliament from retracing the step.; ' Mr. Balfour'remarked that he intended to vote for anything tho Government, said was necessary for tlie ; success of the Bill,- which 1 Was a wonderful issue out of all the divisions and controversies, • tho battles, bloodshed, devastation, and',borrors of war. Ho did hot bolioVe tho : world had shown anything like, it in' the - whole jot its history. Mr.. Balfour's 'remarks' were greeted with loud cheers. •-. j. -, j 1 'Danger of Interference. i The Prinie Minister, Mr. Asquitb, said ho believed thd Union .would bo the harbinger of a more onljghtonod and generous nativo polioy. Interference from the. Mother Country—spasmodic, capricious, perhaps 'sentimental interference—would be the very worst policy ,in thp interests of the natives themselves.; - 1 p. - - ,*• , ■ Colonel Spolyj,in closing tho debate, said' he did not btlievo that the Union Parliament woiild attempt to interfere with the Cape coloured franchise. If it did, the Cape representation; would-be; strong enough,to prevent it.