South Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 24 March 1903, Page 2

South Africa.

SPEECH BY MR CHAMBERLAIN, In the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain, speaking on the vote of twenty millions on account of the Civil Service, and replying to numerous ' interrogations, during which he was warmly cheered, said that during his tour in South Africa he had received 150 deputaions and Interviewed 500 representatives of all parties and shades of opinion. Besides the grant covered by the Yereeniging settlement, he said, the grants to Britishers, and payments of military receipts, Britain’s liability included five millions to cover the proclamations of protection by Lord Roberts and other generals. The total liability was thus fifteen millions. The surplus of the two colonies for 1904 would exceed very largely the cost of the charge of the two loans. The Transvaal loan was not contingent on any other arrangement, direct or indirect.

He stated that the Foreign Office would allow natives to bo recruited experimentally in Central Africa for mines. The settlement of the new colonies was progressing marvellously. One hundred thousand persons had been replaced on the farms and would be assisted temporarily. Mr Chamberlain eulogised the work clone bv Lord Milner.

He acknowledged the co-operation of the Boers He said that if the majority of 'the Boers and British asked for self-government it would be unwise to refuse it, though be considered that, in the interests of the minority, Crown colony government ought to be retained for a few

years. Moreover, a self-governing colony would be able to decide the Kaffir questisons, and the Motherland would not be sble to -interfere. No proposal had been made to him in reference tq assisted immigration. No request had ever been been made for forced labour or Chinese labour. The accusations that the Boera had illtreated the natives had bean exaggerated,- bub those natives who had formerly been taxed eighty-six and six-pence were now taxed forty shillings, and those who had more than one wife forty shillings for each wife beyond one. Mr Chamberlain spoke hopefully of the supply of native labour. He suggested, that recreation would brighten the lives of the natives, and attract them to the Rand .as it had done to Kimberley. . ;