CONCERNING SOUTH AFRICA.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1903, Page 4

CONCERNING SOUTH AFRICA.

The Wav Loan. Chamberlain At Johannesburg. [per press association.—copyright.] Capetown, Jan. 19. The guests at the Johannesburg ban quet included Lord Milner, General Botha ani the Mayor, f|o prided. Mr Ghamberlais received the greatest ovation o! anyone in the history of Jo hannesburg. His speech occupied one luur and a half in delivery. Ha announced that with a view of ensuing a practical and immediate result, and fixing a sum instead of earmarking surpluses, he had secured authorisation to accept schemes based for the first part wholly in Transvaal's favour. Parliament would guarantee the investment of a loan of thirty-five millions on the security of the Transvaal’s and Orangia’s assets, which would be issued the moment it was sanctioned to pay existing debts, buy and construct railways and promote land settlements. A war debt and a loan of thirty millions would be placed at the earliest opportunity after the other loan on security. The Transvaal’s financiers had subscribed an instalment of ten millions, without commission, on preferential security, thus assuring the success of the loan in London. This would place no undue burden on the Transvaal, the Motherland accepting an adequate liberal share. Orangia would not bo asked to contribute unless her resources warranted doing so. Mr Chamberlain warmly denied agreeing to the proposal to introduce Chinese and Persians. Sufficient lab w was availab’e in South Africa if the Kaffirs could be forced to work. Commenting on the increase of white labour, be said that whereas prior to the war there was one white to every ninp. Kaffirs, now the proportion was one to five. If the proportion was increased to make it a white man’s country, it would be essential.to develop the present supply and increase the efficiency of white labor only. Hereafter they could consider drastic measured, Lord Milner apounced that prior to the appointment of the Eqyal Commission he intended calliaggo Intercolonial Conference to oooscler native administration and legislation^ Mr Chamberlain, replying to Mr J. B. Eobinson’s recent statement that it was impossible for Downing gtreat to wholly rule any portion of Bcnth Africa, was widely applauded .wheu jie declared that neither the loer wished to substitute Mart Lane for Downing Street Government, and added- that self government wou’d be granted when the State’s security and the permanence of existing order were secured.