SOUTH AFRICA

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2584, 19 August 1909, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA

THE UNION BILL.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. United Unless Association— Copyright. LONDON, August 17. The second reading of the South African Union Bill was carried without division, and referred to- a committee of the whole" House. Sir Charles Dilke deplored the erection of a terrible bar against colored people, who. but for tlieir descent were eligible to membership of the new Parliament. Colonel Seely warned the House that if the words “of European descent” wore struck out the union would bo smashed. Mr Lyttelton regretted the color bar, but said there was nothing to prevent the Union Parliament retracing the stop. Mr Balfour remarked that he intended to vote for anything the Government said was necessary for the gUCCQSS of the Bill,, wliicji lyas a Wonderful issue out of all the divisions, controversies, battles, bloodshed, devastation, and horrors of war. He did not believe tho world had shown anything like it in its whole history. (Loud cheers.)

Mr Asquith believed the union was the harbinger of a more enlightened and generous native policy. Interference froiti the Motherland —spasmodic, capricious, and perhaps sentimental interference —would ho tile very worst policy in tho interests of tho natives themselves. Colonel Seely did not believe the Union Parliament would attempt to interfere with the Cape colored franchise. If it did the Cape representatives would be strong enough to prevent it.