SOUTH AFRICA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 506, 13 May 1909, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICA.

AGREEMENT AS TO CONSTITUTION. PROVINCIAL COUNCILS. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION, (nr TKr.EGiiM'ii—mess association—copieiodi.) (Rcc. May 12, 11,50 p.m.) Cape Town, May 12. Tho South African Convention is in unanimous agroomont, and tho Constitution has been signed. : Proportional representation has • been dropped, except in tho election of tho Senate and of Executive Committees of the Provincial Councils. This chango means a heavy loss of seats in Parliament to tho Progressive party of Cape Colony, and to the Constitutionalists of Orange River Colony (both British parties). The salaries of members of Parliament are raised to £400 a year. The Natal delegates secured the insertion of a provision reserving for tho Royal Assent Bills affecting the Provincial Councils. [The Progressives at the Cape and the Constitutionalists in Orange Iliver Colony represent tho British elements as against Afrikanders or Boers. Natal has aimed at Federation rather than Unification, and the comparatively small part which the Provincial Councils play, in tho new Constitution has been a matter of criticism in Natal, who has also reserved to herself the right to tako a referendum on the Constitution. In any future question of State rights in South Africa Natal may bo expected to be found on the provincial side; such at,any rate is the present trend of events.]