SOUTH AFRICA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8313, 17 December 1906, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

THE TRANbVAAL CON3TITUTION. CONTRACT LABOUR CLAUSE. LONDON, December 14. Siaee the Transvaal Constitution only reserves; Bills dealing with contract labourers imported from oatside South Africa, this \a interpreted to mean that uativoa from British, Portuguese, and German South Afnoa are employable under conditions of a servile uharaoter, if the Transvaal so decides.

COMMENT THE ONSLAND. Received December 16, 5.13 p.m. CAPETOWN, Deuember 15. The Onsland, the Hat Vlok organ, says the voters' residence qualification is too short beoause the floating population is large. A nominated Council was disappointing. lhe Onßland had a tope that the Imperial Government would amend this by removing all appearance of distrust. With a nominated Council, the Constitution does not bestow fall and responsible government, lhe framers of the Constitution Had taken remarkable pains to safeguard British interests, firstly by a nominated Council; secondly by a •conference of both Houses to settle disagreements whenever the Upper House converted a popular majority •into a miuorifcy; thirdly, by an Imperial veto. The Onsland adds that the Chinese labour stipulation is -satisfactory.

SPEECH BY LORD MILNER. Received Deoember 15, 5.13 p.m. LONDON, DecemDer 15. Lard Milner, speaking at Mantheater, said that he feared it was premature for responsible govern, ment in the Transvaal., 'the result would be an eoonomio catastrophe. The policy of the Government wns liable to Imperial veto. Personally he believed that consolidation of the Empire was the hignest of all political objeots. Great Britain vould be unable to remain a world Power it she stood alone. It was wrong to treat the colonies the same as a friendly foreign naVion. It woula be better to use the growing desire for Imperial unity to counteract the formidable forces of disintegration. He would never forgive himself for neglecting to suggest that the oolonies who co-operated ought to have been consulted in the Mttlement'of South Africa during the period of tutelage. He hoped bir Henry Oampbell-Banuerman would preside at the Imperial Conference. Only Britain's reluctance to participate prevented reoiprocnl and preferential treatment rapidly permeat ine the Empire. The most unfortunate part of it was,that Britain's unsympathetic Httitude conveyed the impression that the United Kingdom was also averse to any idea of preferential trade between different parts of the Empire. The'mere discouragement ra.gbt not deter the oolonies from oqbtinuing preference to Brit'sh goods, but if the colonies were told, "Go your way,Hwe will never dream of closer relations with you than others," the probable result would be to kill a good deal more than preferential trade. Oiher nations would gladly accept the reaiprooal advantages which Britain bad rejeoted. It would be an immense step if regular consultations were established between the colonies and the Motherland with a permanent consultative committee when the conference was not aitting.

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. LONDON, Deoeraber 14. ' The members or the Transvaal Assembly are to be paid £l5O at the end of each session together v?ftb 40s for every day's attendance, provided that tiie total amount does not exceed £3OO per annum. This is intended to defeat obstruction for the mere purpose o! getting more pay. .