MR. CHAMBERLAIN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1610, 7 January 1903, Page 61

MR. CHAMBERLAIN

HIS MISSION TO SOUTH AFRICA. QUESTIONS OF FEDERATION AND - LABOUR.

DURBAN, December

Replying to deputations at Durban, alr Chamberlain said he intended to advise ' Lord Milner to summon a confer-' ence to discuss the question of union of Customs and railway administration in South Africa, which was far more urgent than federation, fie was particularly pleased with the strong feeling in fervour of preferential rates for British goods, indicating unity and sympathy ._ There was ample room in South Africa, Mr Chamberlain considered, for Indian labour.

DURBAN, December SO. Mr Chamberlain met with a great ovation at ic-termaritzbr.rg -

H© paid a magnificent tribute to the soldiers and sailors of the Empire. The colonials, he said, had shown themselves worthy to stand side by side with the noblest of both services.

The Motherland, said Mr Chamberlain, had demonstrated that her arm was .strong to help her children-

Mr Chamberlain added that the advantages cf the recent conference of colonial Premiers Were most marked .*

CAPETOWN, December 31. The Boers in the Utrecht and Vryheid district have astonished Mr Chamberlain by asking for £1,350,000 as compen. sation for war Josses.

Mr Chamberlain told the delegates that it was impossible to recoup the Boers for everything. He also made it clear that the Government did not intend to confer equal civil and political rights on the natives, though securing them equal rights of justice and humanity. The Government of Nataly has withdrawn its claim for a million and a half on the Imperial Treasury in connection with the war. Lord Milner recommends that surrenderors under Lord Roberts’s proclamation be fully compensated for stock taken, apart from that destroyed hi drives, etc. He also recommends that they and the National Scouts should participate in the two inilnon grant. Mr Chamberlain’s announcement thatNatal had foregone nearly two millions has evoked extraordinary enthusiasm. In the course of a speech at Pietermaritzburg, Mr Chamberlain said that before self-government was conceded, the Imperial Government must have evidence of active, besides passive, loyalty. They must place it, he said, beyond the power of anyone or any party to undo- the results of the war. -

Mr Chamberlain eloquently advocated the unity of South Africa. Sooner or later, he said, they must follow the example of Australia. The Imperial Government would hriartily rejoice when a united people demanded a new constitution. The new colonies, fee said, were not yet ripe for autonomy, as they were unable to stand alone, either financially or defensively.

While at Colenso Mr -Chamberlain visited the grave of Lieutenant Rob' erfcs, son of Lord Roberts. LONDON, January 1.

“The Times” says that the exhortations to Afrikanders by General Scluulk Burger (who recommended Afrikanders to cling tenaciously to their language, religion and morals, and to remain loyal only while Afrikanders receive their rightful portion) tally very closely with the disloyal schemes which he expounded in a letter to- Mr Steyn, proving the justice of Mr Chamberlain’s pointed observation that “ declarations of loyalty may mean much, or little.” The “Standard” states that loyalists are leaving Burghersdorp, where the Dutch are particularly aggressive, and urge the boycotting of Mr Chamberlain. The general run of predikants in the country districts exclude the National Scouts from communion.

CAPETOWN, January 2.

Mr Chamberlain has visited Waggon Hill and Caesar’s Camp, the scene of engagements during the war. In a speech at Ladysmith, Mr Chamberlain referred to it as the “town, of tragic and glorious defence,”