A DRAMATIC SCENE IN THE LORDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 193, 18 September 1909, Page 4

A DRAMATIC SCENE IN THE LORDS.

I There was a very dramatic scene in the House of Lords when the South African Constitution Bill, which makes a aation out of the South African colonies, passed its second reading. It was an amazing sequel tu the war, for there on the steps of the throne was General Botha—perhaps the first Premier of the new nation—and other South African statesmen who have not always had friendly eyes for our laud. PEOPLE WHO WKIIK HERE. I "It was a dramatic scene on which] .the scores of peeresses in the side galleries 'looked 'down,'' writes the Lon-| don Mail Parliamentary correspondent,, "Great administrators like Lord Cromer) and Lord Selborne (High Commissioner: of South Africa) sat side Ivy side on thel cross-benches, while, others, like Lord' Lansdownc, Lord Curzon, Lord Morley,' and Lord JlaeDoraell, were on their re-1 spective party sides. White - robed' Bishops at one end of the scarlet benches : diversified the picture. Slim-figured t Lord Crewe, the' Colonial Secretary,l stood at the tabic in the middle of the), House explaining in measured phrase .

the Bill which paves the way for the uniting of vast tracts of the British Empire in one vast sub-empire itself.

"Most striking of all were the Soutli African witnesses of the scene. Seated on the steps of the.throne was a broadshouldered man, with strong face and steady eyes, watching and listening with quiet interest. It was General Botha, who only a few short years ago, rule slung at his back, was leading his people in fight against ufe. Mow the Premier of the Transvaal, he is one of the foremost servants of the King. By virtue of .lis position of Privy Councillor he was admitted to the little space round the throne. He sat on the steps at the ex treine left—a splendid specimen of virile manhood—while by his side were the venerable Sir Henry de Villiers and other South African statesmen. BOTHA'S PRESENCE.

"Among those who shook hands in cordial greeting with General Botha and his companions was Lord Curzon, who left his scat and walked the length of the House in order to do it. Mrs. Botha and the wives of the other South Af"ican delegates had places in the galleries. "Lord Crewe, in moving the second reading of the Bill, said that it closed a chapter in the history of South Africa—'a chapter which has been varied, sometimes agitated, but not, on the whole, inglorious or unfruitful. The whole past history of South Africa becomes a common possession for, ever of all the races.

"'So far as we can see ahead, this Act of Union places the self-governing dominions of the King in something like their final form—the great American group, the great Pacific group, and now the great African group.'" CREDIT TO C.-B.

Lord Crewe also traced events for fo ir hundred years—how the Cape was at first treated as a mere slopping-pUic on the high road to the East. To the visits of Portuguese, Dutch, and British the births of the colonies were to be attributed, and, developing this idea, he showed that for many years past the»c had been a groping in the direction of union, the originator of which was Sir George Grey. Coming on to the period after the declaration of peace in 11)02 the movement for union progressed until it now culminated in this Bill.

"The historian of the future "would undoubtedly point out that this uarticular Act of Union had been made possible by the action of the Government of the late Prime Minister, Sir Fenry Campbell-Bannerman, in sending a Commissio to South Africa in 1900", added Lord Crewe. ,c He thought this credit was due to Sir Henry Campbell-, Bannerman and his own predecessor ml the Colonial Office, Lord Elgin." Lord Curzon congratulated the Uo-i vernment heartily, and Lord Lansdownv the T'nionist leader, joined in the chorus! of praise. | The entire scene was a striking p:e-i linn nary to the Conference on Imperial Defence which was to meet the same week.