THE TRANSVAAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 29

THE TRANSVAAL.

THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

EQUALITY OF BRITON AND BOER

CHARGE OF RASH PRECIPITATION.

JOHANNESBURG, August 2.

The Constitution proposal? have been received in Johannesburg with a feeling of relief at the termination of the suspense.

Opinion in Cape Colony fears thattrouble will arise respecting' ,the Second Chamber, while opinion at Bloemfontein is divided regarding the postponemect of the Orange River Colony's Constitution.

The newspaper the i'ost says that the Imperial Government's decision is a victory for common sense, and it is to be hoped that the Government will leave well alone.

CAPETOWN, August 2.

The membeis of the Het Yolk at Pretoria are generally satisfied that the new Constitution, excepting that portion dealing with the Second Chamber, which Mr Ewald Esseln, a prominent- member of the Boer organisation, condemns.

The newspaper Ons Land says that although the Constitution is an improvement on the Milner-Lyttelton production, yet it in no way fulfils the reasonable expectations of the Boers. There is a regrettable degree of mistrust against the Boers still apparent.

August 3.

Mr Steyn, ex-President of the Orange Free State, on being interviewed, said he had been watching the Liberal partyla tely. and had seen approaching a new era and a good understanding between Britain and the Afrikander Bond. This fair prospect was now overclouded, but, nevertheless, all would be well if Sir H. Campbell-Bamierman would only await Sir West R-idgeway's report regarding the Orange River Colony before granting the Constitution.

Mr A. Fischer said he hoped there would be no delay, otherwise distrust of British faith would be reawakened. It was idle to pretend that if the treaty engagements were not kept there would be that cheerful co-operation with the Imperial Government which the responsible Ministry now called to office would otherw ise give.

LONDON, August 1.

When the House of Commons was in Committee of 'Supply for the discussion of the Colonial Office vote, Mr Winston Churchill, amidst Ministerial cheers, announced the Government's decisions in regaid to the Transvaal, which the speaker described as the nerve centre of South Africa. Mr Churchill r,aid that the Constitution created under the Lyttelton regime was defunct and unworkable, and under its provisions the Boers would hold aloof or become wreckers of the Constitution. The guiding piinciple of the present Government was to make no di f feience in granting responsible governrr.ent between the Briton and the Boer, between those who fought most loyally for Britain and tho<-e who resisted Bntish arms with the most desperate courage. — (Irish choeis.) The flower of the Boer nation and its most renowned leaders recognised the Vereeniging settlement and King Edward's lawful authority, and thenceforward British supremacy in South Africa stood on sure foundations. Military honour and warlike achievement were far beyond reach by the transference of one or two seats this way or that in the local Parliament. South Africa's future and its permanent inclusion in the Empire demanded that King Edward should be equally the sovereign of both races, and both were looking to Britain as a friend. The democratic principle of one vote one value was realisable fairly on a votei's basis alone, owing to the dispaiity of the conditions in the town and country — (Opposition cheers), — and there would be manhood suffrage. — (Labour cheers.) All adulfc males of 21 yeare of age who had been resident in the country for half a year, except members of the garrisons, would be entitled t-i vote by ballot. Sir West Ridgway's committee had reported that there was no suppoit for proportional iepresentation; hence the Government's plan of single-member seats. In Lord Selborne's opinion, the Government was perfectlyfair in allotting, with the Boers' leluetant asseiit, under the commit/tee's pressure, 34 seats to the Rand, including Krugersdorp, six to Pietoria, and 29 to the rest of the country.

Mr Churchill, continuing, said ihat 4h& members would be adequately paid — (Iribh and Labour cheers), — and would be elected for five yeais. The Speaker wouM vacate hib seat after he had been elected, because the Government majority was likely to be small, and it would be a hardship to depiiv< Hit m ]>•>.',[%■ < r ,_,,, of the two or tlnce volt; elo-'. .r^ '<■'>

an effective administration. Speecheswould be permissible in eitheT Dutch or English. There would undoubtedly be more British voters than Dutch. He hoped there would be a coalition Government, with a moderate leader, who would be acceptable to both parties. Such a solution* would be a godsend to South Africa. — 'Ministerial cheers.) Mr Churchill eaid h«s was confident that whatever ' th« majority was, it would in no circumstances fail to do its duty to the Crown. It would be the duty of whosoever represented the Colonial Office in the House of Commons to stand between the new Parliament and all unjustifiable interference from whatever quarter of the House it emanated.

The Second Chamber, -which would liavs tin s.i me duration as the first Parliament, would consist of 15 member*, nominated Ivy the Crown, but later it would becomr elective. With regaid to coolies, therf would be freedom to recruit black labour independently of the Native Labour .-vssoi'iation in certain large mines, and in return lor this concession the J. B. Eobin son group would surrender 3000 outstanding Chinese licensee. The constitution would prevent labour of a servile character. Lord Selborne had been instructed to inquire- into the feeling in South Africa regarding the suggestion that the lipr.sva.al and Orange River- Colony's pro nmen contribution to the cost of the war be diverted to South Afiica for the purpose of continuity of work and land settlement in ihe two colonies, guaranteed by a board under Lord Selborne's con'.roi. The Change River Colony would receive its constitution^ later. Mr Churchill added that the Government desired a fair ieprc6£i:ration of all classes, and the effective expression of the wilt of the majority.

Lord Elgin, explaining the Transvaal Constitution in the House of Lords, said he would not have been satk-iH-d had he not felt British interests in their widest cer.se were safer under - the projected government. The Opposition in both Houses declined responsibility for the new Constitution, Unionists especially. Lord Milner, Lori Lan^downe, and the Hon. A. Lyttelton blamed the Government for rash precipitation in making promises before it knew the facts.

The Liberals claimed they were acting after mature inquiry. The Government, nevertheless, admitted that the West Ridgeway Committee's report was only signed yesterdj-y. umc! has not yei been considered i» its final form.

The Times bespeaks courage and determination, on the part of the British in the Transvaal to do the best they can under the new conaitions.

The tone of the Liberal organs is half apologetic. The Daily Chronicle admits there is a prospect of a very narrow majority, and admits the drawbacks involved in granting manhood suffrage. The Daily News declares that the Constitution is a compromifce, its best feature being the automatic expiry of the Chinese ordinance.

The Morning Post (O.) 6ay6 that a number of Unionifits welcome the general outlines of the Government scheme, but if the action of the Boers is incompatible with loyalty to the Crown both British political parties will unite against them.

The Daily Mail (O.) says that the Government's complete surrender of all the results of the war justified Mr Smute'6 prediction that the Boers would get from the Liberals all they had fought for.

As a result of Mr Churchill's speech, the London Stock Exchange opened nervously, but uitci wards steadkd. South Africans, though flat, are a shade easier.

August 2.

Lord Milner and Lord Courtney agree that single member constituencies in the Transvaal are likely to increase the cleavage between the Briton and the Boor. Each of them preferred a syetem of proportional representation.

In the House of Commons Mr Lyttelton declared that the presence of German troops and many B;oer Volunteeus in German Weefc Africa ought to have been considered before t,he Transvaal was given self-government, thus leducing Great Britain's powei so soon after the war. In the event of disturbance in Europe the propinquity of those trooj)s would possibly be a serious factor. He further said that the Government was anxious to transfer to the Transvaal all responsibility in regard fco the Chinese.

Mr Balfour denounced manhood suffrage as an obstacle, and eaid that any coloured suffrage was al&o an obstacle, to federation ; but, above all, the granting of selfgovernment without the usual transitional period wa6 most dangerous. He added : " I am astonished at so unprecedented, audacious, and reckless an experiment. The memories of the-- Dutch are memories of war. They are memories of their independence which preceded the war. They are human ; how, then, can we ask them to change their sentiment? Can tie political institutions about to be given be made a substitute for that military organisation whicn brought them ' honourably into the field in 1896 at the time of the Jameeon raid? There was nothing to the country quietly preparing for a new war. What animates ihem cannot be a deliberate preference for the new over the old 6tate of things. I believe such preference will come in time, but you are asking the Dutch to do what you would not do if vnu 'vpi-p in th<"ir ]>' ice."' -Hi I, .i: of ' ln.-i. .i approaching, Sir H.

Campbell-Bannerman rose and angrily sai* that he had never listened to a more- • unworthy, mischievous, and provocative speech. * This was greeted with loud Opposition protests and cries of "Shame!" and " Withdraw !" and Ministerial counter cheers.

The vote was carried 1 by 316 to 83. The comments of the newspapers are. guarded, owing to the momentous issues involved in the Government's policy.

Loid Milner declared that tJie Government had precipitately risked placing the whole executive power in the hands ofinett. who were totally unfit to exercise it.

Sir West Ridgeway is confident that all parties in the Transvaal will loyally sup--port the Constitution.

Mr W. T. Stead says it ie evident tliafc the Boers, with their British sympathiser, will command a permanent majority in the TiansvaaL

Many Unionist members of chambeia of commerce urge their leaders to rouse tho nation, believing that the Government's policy will drive the Boers to seek the Kaiser '§ assistance for a South African federation.

The Daily Telegraph says -that tha general verdict of the colonies and the city on the Transvaal Constitution may be summarised in the phrase, often recurring yesterday : "It might have been worse."

The Johannesburg correspondent of Th» Times reports that the British party is fiankly disappointed "with the Constitution.

The Times says that on the whole theverdict in South Africa and in Great Britain oi the Transvaal Constitution seems to be that things might* well have- been woise. The result simply throws into stronger relief the unwisdom of the line of action pursued during the last six months by a. policy of interference and menace, whence any avenue of escape is welcome, however great the attendant risks.

August 3.

In the House of Commons Mr Win> ston Churchill announced that the Transvaal elections would be held not later than January.

BERLIN", August 2.

The Berlin newspaper the Norddeutsche Zehung expresses surprise at Mr A. Lyttelton's leference to German South- West Africa in, view of the frank and explicit statements made in the Reichstag. OTTAWA, August 2.

The Toronto Globe 6ays that there is no reason to fear that the Boere, after their spirited struggle and the acceptance of an honourable peace, will fail to appreciate the Government's magnanimity in now treating "them as trustworthy friends.

August 3.

The Gazette, Montreal, says :— " The future of South Africa concerns Australia and Canada equally with Britain, and it wa-s not for such reckless and audacious experiments as the latest Constitution that we gave so proudly tha blood of our bravest men."