SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 32

SOUTH AFRICA.

CHINESE PETITION THE GOVERNMENT. CAPETOWN, July 24. The Cape Colony Assembly has unanimously passed Mr Malan's motion urging the Cape Government lo approach the other South African Governments with a view to forming a federation. Mr Malan said he estimated" that federation would be achieved in five years. Dr Jameson (Premier), in seconding the motion, advised the Federationkts to hasten slowly. He 6ai<J he expected that when the Intercolonial Conference on Customs and Railways had concluded its business early in 1908 it would proceed to consider the preliminaries in connection with federation, paving the way for a national convention elected by the people. 1 F July 26. Two thousand Chinese employed in the Simmer Jack mine havo petitioned the Government to allow them to Tenew their ■contracts. July 27. The half-year's trade statistics of Cape Colony show that for the first time since preference^ was adopted there has been a distinct increase in the proportion of British trade as compared with foreign trade. PRETORIA, July 23. The Nonconformists are 6trongly protesting against the Government's bill to supply, beer to the natives working in the mines. July 26. The Government has withdrawn the Beer Bill, under which it was proposed to supply beer to the natives working in the mines. LONDON, July 24. The Times' Johannesburg correspondent states that the main object of the Government Liquor Bill is .to attract a larger number of Kaffirs to the Rand,, but thesupport of the brewers and a certain numJber of mining men will not suffice to carry the bill in the face of the growing storm •of opposition. July 25. The Daily Express reports a deadlock in the business of the Cape Parliament owing to nearly half the members being prostrated with influenza. AN UNPROMISING OUTLOOK. SYDNEY, July 27. Mr Valder, the New South Wales commercial agent in South Africa, has returned to the State. He says that from the commercial point of view trade there is shockingly bad, though, despite the general diminution in trade, Australian products hare been able to hold their own. Mr Botha (Premier of the Transvaal), in a speech at the reassembling of Parliament last mouth, announced the repatriation of 16,759 coolies in 1907. He remarked that the supply of native labour for some time past had markedly exceeded the demand. It was not intended to legislate this session for & temporary renewal of the ooolie contraots, the presence of Chinese being in the highest degree inimical.