TRANSVAAL SITUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13214, 27 June 1906, Page 4

TRANSVAAL SITUATION.

The report that- a "compromise" has been arrived at between the British and the Boer representatives in the Transvaal is only believable when we remember the extraordinary attitude of the Bannerman party towards the defeated assailants of colonial integrity. The " compromise " has been reached, if the report is true, by an arbitrary adjustment of seats, that gives 33 members to the Boer districts, 30 to the Bri-tish-occupied Rand, and six to Pretoria, which is more Boer than anything else. There are to be: Single electorates, which may help either party; manhood suffrage, which might easily help the British, but might possibly help the Boers ; and a temporarily-nominated Upper House, which for five years, and for five years only, may stem the turning tide of reviving Afrieanderism. Since the Boers get political control, in place of then • present subordination it is not to be wondered at that they arc ready to" make this alleged " compromise.'"'' Nor is it to be wondered at that the Commission appointed by

the, Bannerman Cabinet should approve such a proposal. What remains unexplained. is the motive of the Transvaal British in accepting it. as they arc reported to have done. Have the Rand magnates bought the Boer support for Chinese Labour? Or have they determined to introduce White Labour and help to recapture for Britain the key to the political situation ? ' It has been recently stated that Unemployed are being engaged in London at 7s 6d per day for work in the Rand mines, but it remains to be seen whether this is an honest and sincere attempt, to solve the problem in a national manner, or merely a method of obtaining proof that White Labour cannot do the work. In either case it is plain that the Transvaal situation is rapidly approaching • a climax. Before it year is over we shall see if the life and treasure so profusely given to maintain the Empire; in South Africa has been altogether thrown away, and it the'-" compromise " arrived ati will not only re-establish the Boer in political authority but permanently exclude white miners from the Rand. •