AFRICAN PROBLEMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 46, 23 January 1926, Page 9

AFRICAN PROBLEMS

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH. ASIATIC AND NATIVE QUESTIONS. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received January 23, 11.30 p.m. CAPETOWN, Jan. 22. The Earl of Athlone, in opening the Union Parliament, said it was pleasing to note tho improvement in tho general condition of tho Union. The industrial life of the Union was responding satisfactorily to the stimulus cf the protection policy adopted by the country, and good progress was being made with agriculture. The long continued absence of general rains over the whole countiy, however, was causing considerable anxiety with regard to this year’s harvest. Dealing with the Asiatic question, the Governor-General’s speech proceeds: “For the purpose of securing healthier relations between tho various elements of the population, and safeguarding tho proper economic development. of the country, a bill will be introduced for the reservation to various classes of persons areas for residential and trading purposes and foxamending the registration and immigration laws in certain respects.” With regard to the native question, the speech says: “This question has been engaging the serious attention of Ministers. It is felt that a speedy solution of this great problem is essential to the well-being of both tho European and the native populations in the Union; and bills will be laid before Parliament during tho present session dealing with its rnoi-e inxpox-tant aspects, but owing to the weighty character and the great national importance of these measures, Ministers do not contemplate proceeding with them beyond the preliminary stage curing tho present session.”—A. and N.Z. cable.