TRANSVAAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8200, 2 August 1906, Page 5

TRANSVAAL.

THE CONSTITUTION.

SPEECH BY MR W. CHURCHILL

Receivefl August 1, 9,46 p.m

LONDON, August 1

Iu the House of Commons Mr VV. Churchill amidst ministerial cheers announced the Government's decisions with regard to the Transvaal, which he described as the nerve centre of South Africa. He Eaid that the Constitution created under the Lyttelton regime was defunct and unworkable, and that tho Boers under euoh a Constitution would hold aloof or become tb» wreckers of the Constitution. "Our guiding principle, said Mr Cburuhill, "is to make no difference in granting responsible government between Briton and Boer between those who fought most loyally for us and those who resisted the British arms with tho moat desperate courage. (Cheers from the Irish members.) The flower of the Boer nation and its most renowned leaders recognised the Vereenigiug settlement and King Edward's lawful authority. From thence forward British supremacy in South .Africa stood sure foundations. South Afrioa'e future and its permanent inclusion iu the Empire demanded that the King should be equally a sovereign of both races. Both were looking to Great Britain as a friend. The democratic prinoiple of one vote one value was realisable on a voters' basis alone owing to the dis- | parity of conditions iu the town and country, (Opposition obeer<o, and there would be men hood suffrage (Labour oheers). All adult males over twenty-one years of age whp had been resident iu the country half a year, except members of garrisons, would be entitled to vote by ballot. Sir West Ridgeway's committee had reported that there was no support for a proportion of ieprosentation, henoej the Government's plan of single member seats. In Lord Seleorn's opinion tho Government was perfectly fair in allotting, with the Boers reluotant assent, and under the committee's pressure, thirty-four seats to the Rand, including Krugeradorp, six to Pretoria, and twentynine to the rest of the country. Members would be adequately paid (Irish and Labour oheers) and would ba elected for five years. Speeches would be permissable in Outah or English. There were undoubtedly more British voters than Dutch. It was the duty of whoever 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 ohamber, which would have the same duration as tho first Parliament, would consist of fifteen members ncminnted by the Crown. Later it would become eleotive. With regard to ooolies there pouH be freedom to recruit black labour independently of the native labour assooia-

tion. Certain large mines in return for this concession will surrender 3,000 outstanding Chinese licenses. The Constitution would prevent labour of a servile character. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. Reoeived August 2, 12.26 a.m. LONDON, July 31. In the House of Lords Lord Elgin, in explaining the Transvaal Constitution said that he would not have been satisfied had he not felt that British interests in their wiriest s?nse would be safe under the projeoted Uovernmeiit. Lord 3 Milnerand Lansdowne and Viscount Ooliuara blamed s the Government for making promises before they knew facts. The Liberals claimed that they were acting after mature inquiry. The Government nevertheless admitted that Sir West Ridgeway's report was only signed yesterday, and hnd not yet been considered in a final form. The Opposition in both Houses Inve declined responsibility in connection with the new constitution; the Unionists especially so.