TRANSVAAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8201, 3 August 1906, Page 5

TRANSVAAL.

THE CONSTITUTION. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. Received August 2, 7.40 a.m. LONDON, August 1. Lord Milnei' and Lord Courtney, speaking in the Bouse of Lords, agreed that single member constituencies are likely to increase the cleavage between Briton * and Boer. Both members preferred proportional representation. In the House of Commons Mr Liyttelton declared that the p'-eseucc of Herman troops and niauy Boer volunteers in German West Africa ought to have been considered bafoie the Transvaal was given selfgovernment. Reducing our power so soon after the war, in the event of a disturbance in Europe the propinquity of those troops would possibly b3 a serious factor. He said the Government was anxious to transfer to the Transvaal the responsibilities in regard to the Chinese. Received August 2, 9.30 p.m. BERLIN, Auguit 2. The Berlin newspaper Noddeutsohe Zeitung expresses surprise at Mr Lyttelton's reference to German south-west Africa, in view of the frank and explicit statements made in the Reichstag. VIGOROUS SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR.

Reoeived August 2, 7.40 a.m. LONDON, August 1

Mr Balfour denounoed manhood surffage &s an obstacle to any coloured suffrage; also as an obstacle to federation, but above all the granting of self-government without the usual transitional-period was most dangerous. He added: "I am astonished at so unprecedented, audacious, and reckless an experiment. Memories of Dutoh are memories of war. They have mem ories of independence which preceded the war. ( They are human. How can ffwe ask them to change their sentiment? Can the political institution about to be given be made a substitute for the military organisation wbioh brought them honourably iuto the field jn the 1896 Jamießon Raid? There is nothing to prevent the country quietly preparing for a new war. What animates them cannot be a deliberate preference for the new over the old state of things. 1 believe it will come in time. But you are asking the Dutoh to do what you could not do if you were in their plaoe." As the hour of closure was approaching, Sir Henry OnmpbellBannerman rose angrily and said that he never listened to a more unworthy, mischievous, provooative speech. The soeeoh was greeted with loud Opposition protests and cries of "Shame" and "Withdraw,,' and Ministerial ooanter-cheers. The vote was carried by 316 votes to 83.

The comments of the newspapers are guarded owing to the momentous issues of the Government's policy. The Times bespeaks oourage and determination on the part of the British in the Tiansvaal to do their best under the new conditions. The tone of the Liberal jou"nals is half apologetic. The Daily Chronicle admits the prospeot of a very narrow majority, and also admits that drawbacks are involved in the granting'of manhood suffrage. The Daily .News declares that the constitution Is a compromise, the best features being the automatio expiry of the Chinese ordinances. The Morning Post says a number of Unionists welcome the general outlines of the Government soheme, but if the Boers' action is incompatible with loyalty to the Grown both British political parties will anite against tbem. Lord Milner deolared that the Government had precipitately risked placing the whole of the executive power in the hands of men totally I unfit for the responsibility. air J. West Ridgeway is confident that all parties in the Trunsvaal will loyally support the constitution. Mr W. T. Stead, editor of the Review of Reviews, says it is evi dent that the Boers, with British sympathisers, will command a permanent majority in the Transvaal. Many Unionist members of the Chambers of Commerce urge their l«aders to rouse the nation, believing that the Government policy will drive the Boers to seek the Kaiser's assistance for a South African Federation. The Daily Mail says:—"The Government's complete surrender of all the results of ?the war has justified Mr Smuts' prediction that the Boers would get from the Liberals all they fought for." EFFECT UN THE STOCK EXCHANGE. Received August,2, 8.43 a.m. LONUON, August 1, As the result of Mr Winston Churchill's speech, the London Stock Exchange opened nervously, but afterwards steadied. South Africans are flat and a suede easier.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Piess Association—Copyright,