"A White Peril."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 21 February 1914, Page 5

"A White Peril."

THE SOUTH AFRICAN AGITATORS. THE DEPORTATIONS SUPPORTED. BERATE IX THE CAPE PARLIAMENT. lly Cable—Press Association—Copyright Capetown, February 10. In the discussion in the House on the Indemnity Bill, Mr. Burton, -Minister of Railways, declared that he did not act as a constitutional lawyer, but in the bona iide conviction that the deportation of the ringleaders was necessary. He vouhl do the same again under similar circumstances. Ik- admitted that the deportations were grossly illegal, but men of the class of those'deporicd constituted a real white peril to the country. Mr. Burton declared that the railwaymen were deluded, bamboozled and duped by rascals. According to the secret code of the Railwaymcn's Society, preparations were made to run trains, and issue an ultimatum against Lord Gladstone and the Government. Sir Thos. Smart, Leader of the Opposition, said the proclamation of martial law bad the. support of the vast majority of the people of the country. The deportations were a mistake. The Government should have submitted a Bill authorising the deportations immediately Parliament opened. He would support the Government, rather than take the responsibility of allowing the deported men to return and continue ■their nefarious practices. Mr. Hull, late Minister of Finance, said he regarded the story of a widespread conspiracy as merely an afterthought to justify the deportations. It was the height of nonsense to allege that there was a conspiracy because nine jackasses made inflammatory speeches. The root cause was the unhappy relations between masters and men. The Volkstem (Pretoria) says Mr.. Harceurt interpreted with absolute accuracy the Imperial position., and deserves the unstinted gratitude of the Empire for his sagacious and necessary warning against offensive criticism of colonial politicians by English parliamentarians.