THE TRANSVAAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11887, 10 May 1899, Page 5

THE TRANSVAAL.

AUSTRALIAN CO-OPERATION INVITED.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

ADELAIDE,! May- 9.

The-Mayor has-received a letter from the imperial South African Association, asking Mm to-co-operate-with the Mayor of Sydney inammgingiorn. publicmeeting to- ventilate, the-grievances- of the Transvaal Uhlan ders. THB -PRESIDENT AND THE UITLANDERS.. •MR KRUGER’S PROPOSALS. pdre- following is a summary of President Kruger’s speech-at Heidelberg early in March: —• . President-Kruger said he intended to obtain the services of a financier of the best European reputation, who would have a seat and an. advisory voice, and a vote in the Executive Council on all matters financial. Pending the report of such an expert, the Government did not intend to levy any fresh taxation either 'as regards the mining industry or the burghers. Speaking on the dynamite question, the President expressed his intention to take over the factory as soon as possible, and to work the same for the benefit of tbe country: Cancellation was impossible, as no one was justified in arbitrarily upsetting vested lights and titles. ■ He further emphasised the necessity of the State retaining the dynamite monopoly in its own hands, because, being an. inland State, in the event of trouble with any of the. Powers, the supplies of explosives might be suddenly shut off, “ and where,” he asked, “would we be then?,” Regarding underground mining rights, the President expressed the opinion that surfaceholders had a preferential right over groundbolders. He would therefore propose to the Volksraad that it should reconsider its resolution of last year, so that such rights should nob be sold to outsiders, but that, after a fair valuation had been made, the present companies, who were surfaceowners, - should be given preferential rights

to ground-owners. . Otherwise, he was afrflid specriiaiors might drive up prices in.; order to keep the present surface- holders wit of their rights. Dealing with the franchise, President Kruger said the law how stipulated for a residence of fourteen years before full burghership could bo obtained. Two - years’ reoderice was required before papers of'naturalisation could be taken out, then two;more years’ before residents were eligible for the second Raad, and a further ten years before an alien could vote or be eligible ■ for the first Eaad. The President . said he would propose to the Volksraa.d during the - coming May session to reduce the last." period of ten years to five, so that an klfon. entering the State after the la,w had been amended Would only bawe to wait nine years for the full franchise instead of teen while aliens who were already in the Republic, and had resided over two years in the country,, could claim full burgher rights within Seven years- This.'.of couwe, was '. contingent: upon aliens first of all taking, an hath, of' allegiance to the Republic, which oath should be on the same lines as the one required in the tJniited States of America.