THE TRANSVAAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11789, 13 February 1906, Page 5

THE TRANSVAAL.

Letter by the Hon. Lyttelton.

Press Association.— Telegraph.— Copyright.

Received February 12, 10.17 p.m.

LONDON, February 12. The Hon. Lyttelton, in a letter to the Times commenting on reports that the Government is meditating the abandonment of one vote one value and substituting a system of giving greater weight to a man living in the country than one living in a town, says he cannot bring himself to believe that a Cabinet containing good men and true patriots can in the initial plenitude of its power and authority lend themselves to so weak and disastrous a policy. The late Government adopted the system after many months of free discussion. The Transvaal showed that the general opinion of tho community and of the parties were sharply differing on other very material points, which were here agreed. No petition against the principle offered. In the Commons debate on July 9th, on the contrary, Sir 11. Campbell-Bannerman distinctly approved the electoral basis. Moreover, it was a fallacy to allege that it was devised to secure the mine-owners' ascendancy, inasmuch as the number of British workmen on the Rand alono were sufficient to obliterate the mine-owners in election. Continuity of the colonial policy was essential, particularly in South Africa, where vacillation was universally despised. A strong stable policy commands the respect and goodwill of all races. The Times says the population census and the new demarcation of boundaries would postpone self-government for two years. Moreover, n Commission had been some time on demarcation on the present basis. It must be remembered that to grant immediate responsible government was a great concession. This brought the two British parties in the Transvaal into line, but also into line against the charges of sapping the foundations of British power. CAPETOWN, February 12. Mr Smuts, when starting homewards, declared that he was convinced that the Government was mindful of the interest of all in the Transvaal, and would do nothing to favour any one section.