SOUTH AFRICA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1439, 27 April 1905, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

THE TBANSVAAL CONSTITUTION.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Beceived 11.9 p.m., April 26. London, April 26. Letters patent providing a Transvaal constitution were issued yesterday. The Legislative Assembly is to be re-elected every four years, and to consist of a Lieu-tenant-Governor, between six and nine officials, and between thirty and thirty-five elected members. The voters consist of

I every bnrgher of the late republic entitled I to vote at the First Volksraad, white Britishers with six months’ ’occupation of [ a house at a rent of £lO, or earning £IOO per nnnam. The country is subdivided into thirty to thirty-five electoral districts, and re-divided after the second biennial and each alternate biennial registration. Debates will be conducted in Eoglisb, but with the President’s consent Dutch may be used.

I In dividing the Transvaal into districts I the Commissioners give due consideration to the existing conditions. Country administrative divisions are empowered, but [ they depart from the standard number of votes within 10 per cent. As regards the war contribution, the Government leave it to the Assembly, assured they will do what is right. Liberal newspapers predict disappointment, but the Daily Chroniole admits that a real, honest deliberative Assembly will be created..

The Daily News says that the voter in Johannesburg will represent himself as a, rural voter. The whole of t l household constituencies ought to be * ? relation not the numb o , constitution hands oveb-.t . the mining population. - / /