SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 22308, 7 April 1936, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS

NATIVE REPRESENTATION BILL UNUSUAL INCIDENT IN PARLIAMENT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright CAPETOWN, April 6. (Received April 7, at 11 a.m.) The closing sitting of the joint parliamentary session on the Native Representation Bill was marked by an unusual incident, although the necessary two-thirds majority is assured. The Minister of the Interior (Mr Hofraoyr) bluntly announced his intention to vote against the Bill because as far as the Assembly was concerned it created a colour bar. The definition of native ” would degrade the everincreasing number of coloured people, and the creation of a native voters’ roll was contrary to the spirit of the Act of Union. He forecast that the Bill would make educated natives who were denied political equality leaders in disaffection and revolt among their own people. European sympathisers, led by Sir James Roseinnes and Archbishop Phelps, have issued a manifesto protesting against the organisation of the electorate on racial lines. Mr Hofmeyr’s opposition to the Bill is bound to lead to serious repercussions*