THE TRANSVAAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 9

THE TRANSVAAL

ASIATIC LABOUR QUESTION, ministerial policy announced. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. PRETORIA, March 21. 'Mr Smuts (Colonial Secretary) intends to submit to the Transvaal Parliament a resolution for tho reinstatement of the Asiatic Ordinance, which Lord Elgin disallowed, Sir Gilbert Parker, 11, P., lvlm is now in Africa, in the course of an interview, said if the ordinance was re-enacted, as he felt sun: if would he, laii'cl Elgin would hardly venture again to disallow it, as 99 out- of <*veiy 100 whites in »South Africa thovuuglily approved of such a course. _ * March 22. (Received March 22, at 10.14 p.m.) The Transvaal Legislative Assembly, after electing General Beyers as Speaker, proceeded to the Upper House, where Lord Selbornc delivered his inaugural Speech, lie announced that Ministers had resolved that the importation of Chinese must cease at the earliest possible date, hut. they would not be- repatriated until substitutes were found. If substitutes were not, forthcoming the indentures of the Chinese would lie temporarily renewed. Ministers meanwhile would do their utmost to increaso the supply of KaHirs. Tho Assembly passed t lie ordinance in accordance with Mr Smuts's. motion through all stages, the Opposition cooperating, and after the third rending the measure was sent to the Upper House. The Government wanted tho nutter settled forthwith. The Council, however, was about to adjourn when Mr H. C. Hull declared that unless tho bill wne immediately passed the Assembly would adjourn, and thus wreck the bill. Mr Eeltham and others declared that the Council declined to he vushed its regards the consideration of the measure, ami the Council adjourned till next day. Iho salient feature of' tho Assembly's proceedings was the effaceinent of ilr Botha, tho Prime Minister, everything being left to Mr Smuts. Another feature was the action of Mr Sclialk Burger and other Boer members in interrupting and insisting that the officials of tho House should speak in Dutch. This occurred after they hadbegun ill English,

Soon'after the Liberal Government took office in England (lie Earl of Elgin; sent a telegram to Lord Sclbornc stating that, ihe experiment of the introduction of Chineso labourers should not bo extended further until tho Imperial Government could learn (he opinion of the colony through an elected and roally representative Legislature.; and the Government had decided that recruiting, embarkation, and importation of Chinese cdolies should be slopped. The Government at the some time altered several provisions of the Chinese Labour Ordinance, and made arrangements by which those coolies should be repatriated who could show good reason toby llicy should l>e. The decision of tho Transvaal_ Legislature on tho Chinese question is now being awaited with interest. The most notnblo tendency of tho Transvaal election speeches was to sholvo the Chineso labour question. "If these elections were being fought for the benefit of Downing street (says the Pall Mall Gazette), and according to the views of the British electorate a year ago, we ought to be hearing that the pigtail issue is kept vehemently to the front, and that, tho emancipated Transvaal is rising iii its might to expel the yellow man. Instead of which, as I hoy happen to bo fighting the contest to please themselves, tho Boers and their allies are saying as little about, the coolies «s I hoy oan. It. is a good deal less certain than Mr Churchill's Radical clients at, Westminster would like it to bo that the Boer majority will play tho Radical game. Tho Dutch will act, as tho South African Dutch always have, first, last. ' and at- every intermediate stage, solely with a view to Dutch interests and aspirations."