West Coast Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1907. THE FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICA.

West Coast Times, Issue 14178, 31 July 1907, Page 2

West Coast Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1907. THE FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Ever since autonomous government was granted to the South African Stite s many of the leadiDg legislators there have looked forward to the time when be whole of British South Africa would be federated. The Imperial Confereuce in London considerably improved the outlook for such a consummation and the meeting of the South African Premiers there, wi^h the other Premiers, is likely to hasten tbe time when the various South African colonies will be united under one Government as is tbe case in Canada and Australia. The marked f riendliaess between Dr Jamiesoo, Premier of Cape Colony, and General Botha, the Transvaal Premier on the occasion was particularly noted ard is thought to portend a like uta'.e of feeling amoDg«t tbe two very distinct sections of people whom they represent. It is suiely somewhat significant that these two men should meet on common ground with not only, not a tra^p of animosity, but with special friendliness. Ik oii&b6La.va bew expected that (to

originator and oocdaotor of Jamieeon's ' Raid and General Botha one of the frost dought champions of the Boer cause during tbe war, would hardly have got on speaking terms during tbe lifetime of either man and that tbey showed a hearty spirit of unity at the Conference argues dawning of a like spirit amongst their respective peoples. Racial antagonism, especially amongst two nations who nave been at war is, however, difficult to extinguish and the old Bond who are now known as the South African party have been doing their best to keep alive tbe feud between Briton and Boer. This undesirable state of things time will, however, fiud a cure for, and unfortunately there are more serious obstacles to the inauguration for a time at least of a a Federated South Africa. Two real difficulties present themselves a3 regards the union of tbe South African colonies the first being the difference in tbe laws relating to Asiatics in Natal, and the se« cond with respect to franchise in Cape Colony, A well informed South African correspondent writing on this aspect of the question saya:— ln Natal the Indian cooliee equal, if they do nob outnumber, the whites, and tbey are gradually pushing them out of businesses and trades. In tbe Transvaal legislation of a very restrictive character bas been encated, and received the assent of th« Imperial Government, It will probably be sought to make the laws of the new Com* monwealth harmonise as ranch as post sible with those to tbe allying States, and tbis question of Asiacicß in Natal is sure to present a very serious obstacle. Si nilarly, in Cape Colony there is the difficulty concerning what is known as the "blanket vote." Jn the ( \)ld Colony" the kaffira are allowed votes on a very low qualification, aud at the present time tbey could, were tbey unanimous, hold a balance of power between the Progressives and the South African paity. Fortunately for these parties, they hava not yet arrived at a knowledge of their political weight, but in time tbey will most assuredly do so. In none of these other colonies has a franchise | been granted to kaffir or to coloured | people of any description, and there is net the leaßt likiibood x>i either the Transvaal or the Orange River Colony consenting to extend their franchise in tbis direction. An anomaly wiil thus be presented uf one of the colonies electing representatives on a franchise that the others would not consent to, and that franchise will, I presume, be exerted in ref pect of Federal as well as State elections, as the Imperial Government are not likely to assent to any measure that would take away from tbe coloured people any of the rights they now possess. There {are many minor points where delicate negotiations will be necessary to adjust the relations of the various States, but the two I have men' tioned are the principal once, and probably even with theße some method may be adopted to overcome the difficulty; but it may only be in the direction of having the State Jaws with regard to Asiatics out of harmony with each other. Possibly a solution will be found in giv« ing the individual States more powers than tbey possess in Canada or Australia. It is quite probable tbat a conference will be arranged before the next Cape Colony » leciions, though Ido not suppose that the contemplated union will be effected until the Dutch party is in the ascendant in Cape Colony, the Orange River I Colony, and the Transvaal.