SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 15

SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

PREFERENTIAL TRADE. CAPETOWN, May 4. The Bond Congress, amid much cheering, altered the Bond Constitution, describing themselves as the Parliamentary party of South Africa, and not as the Afrikander party, thu3 formally accepting the policy of the Vereeniging settlement and affirming the Bond's aspirations for federation on the Australian and Canadian models. The Congress opposed forced labour or the importation of Asiatics, and declared that there was plenty of labour in Africa under good and liberal treatment. May 6. The Bond Congress unanimously condemned any contribution by the Cape Parliament to the cost of the war. May 7. The extreme reticence of the speaker* prevents the real aims of the Bond Congress being divulged. The Indians residing in Johannesburg have protested against being compelled ! to conduct their business in bazaars and being allocated locations in the city. j May 8. An unofficial poll shows that the Natal Parliament is practically unanimous in favour of a preferential tariff with Great Britain. A large majority of the Cape Parliament, however, are against it. WELLINGTON, May 6. The Premier has received a letter from the Surveyor-general of Orange River Colony stating that surveyors who hold New Zealand certificates will be admitted to practise in that colony on the production of a letter of introduction from the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. He states that there is little or no prospect of employment for additional surveyors in the colony.. The* Auckland Farmers' Co-operative Society is to be wound up. Tho balancesheet shows a loss of £1350. There are 900 shareholders in the company. An unusual sight was witnessed in a street in Auckland the other day. A cart* load of furniture which had been despatched from a warehouse to a customer was being conveyed to its destination, when it took fire, and was sDeedilv reduced to charred ' fticks*