THE UNION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 429, 11 February 1909, Page 7

THE UNION.

SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTITUTION.

MAIN PROVISIONS.

THE DUAL CAPITAL COMPROMISE. (di TEtEOßArn—r-Bsss association—corTßionT.) . (Reo. Fobruary 10, 10.55 p.m.) Capo Town, February 10. The draft Constitution of tho South African federation, which will hereafter bo called the Union, provides for tho following :— A Governor-General, with a salary of £10,000. ' An Executive Council empowered to nominate right senators. A Senate to consist of forty membeis, cacli provinco electing eight, and tho present colonial Parliaments choosing them in tho fust instance and tho Piovinoial Councils subsequently. A House of Assembly comprising fifty-one members for tho Capo, seventeen for Natal, seventeen for. tho Orange Rivor Colony, and thirty-sis for tho Transvaal—all members to bo of European descent.

[•The'federal ;co>stituenciSs;wiirbe;delimited' 'on a'basis'bf .European adult male,'; popula-. ;tion,. with ■ quinquennial redistribution.. --The; principle of proportional .representation.-.;■ is: .accepted, with'.-a-single 'transferablevote. '.;..' : :-;Tho English'and Dutch: languages .'are, to have equal privileges.- -.■ ■..••.>.-.'.■' ■'.■■ 'v ; ■■'y-'p;: Vv-. 1 ...Each province is to be administered by; air administrator-nominated by, the*: Governor-' General; Executive .Committee, and the -'Pro-', vincial-"Council, 'with carefully-doliminated ,■'. : ;'-'K., :;; ! ...■ v:';'':f w: .' .'A federal. Court of. Appeal ;k'te'..be established; with the power of; appeal' to the Privy. Council. !: v. :-.;'X, ; '', .' ' ■'-'< '.'.•'' :■:);<[':■' ■■•■>'.'- ; '.- -The Union .will assume all assets and debts; and; will ; take'jover-tbevcivil:servants,"and as' :cpmpeusation^for acquiescence,.,in,: theidual capital compromise will pay'Pietermaritzburg and Blo'emfontein : two per centuln; of their; : niiinioipal debts .for; twenty-five .'years.;-On the.other handj.if it'isiound necessary, Cape :T.owii and Pretoria will', bo.. allowed onevpor .'cehtumbf their municipal;debts; 'p^?' : :i-;j-:y'y , ..The'railways and ports.are to' bo:vVsted;.in three commissioners and a .Cabinet.Minister,: settlement.of ;6gri r cultural fanddndustrial'.populationsi;?.',' >•";: -JjI ; The" interest's of 'the 'native, populations. afo Carefully safeguarded, ■ and.tno. salo'of J liquor, to ;natives;is,prohibited...,.a:i;;'; ; 'v;v: ; ' : V;V ; v