SOUTH AFRICAN FEDERATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 15, 11 February 1909, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICAN FEDERATION

THE DRAFT CONSTIITTIUN. A CAIiIttTUA- THOUGHT-OUT MliASiUltK.

Hcceived 10, 10.55 i».m, Capetown, IVbnlitiy 10, Tim draft constitution of the South African Federation, which hercnftii •fill be called "Tim Union," consists «f a fiovernor-General. with a Hilary ol .Clfl.miO; an Executive Council, em powernrt to nominate eight senator; n senate, to consist ol' forty member.-, cuch province electing eight, the present Colonial Parliaments choosing them i" the lirst instance, and the Provincial Councils subsequently; ft House of Assembly, comprising fifty-one members for the Cape, seventeen for Xatal. sevente«n foi Ornngla, and thlrty-sl* for the I'ransvaal, all members to be of European de-cent; Federal constituencies to bo delimited on a basis of tin- European adult male population; quinquennial To-distriliution: the principle of proportional representation and a single transferable vote; Ungltsli and Dutch languages to have e(|iial privileges; each province to be administered by an ad- ' minlstrator, nominate* by the (lovcriioivCcneral. the TCxccntlnv Committee ', and the Provincial Council, with care- - f«llv de'.imlnated powers; a I'cderal i Court of Appeal to the Privy Council. The I'nion assumes all assets an J debts and takes ovi r the civil servants, And. as compensation for acquiescence In the dual capital compromise, pays] Maritzburg and Bloemfontein two per centum of their municipal debts for -5 years. On the other hand, if it is found necessary, Capetown and Pretoria are to be allowed one per centum on their municipal debts. The railways and ports arc to lie vested in lliree commissioners, and a Cabinet. Minister, with a view lo promoting the settlement of agricultural and industrial populations. I The interests of the native populations ire carefully safeguarded. The sale of lijuoi 1 to them is prohibited.