ASIATICS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9043, 30 January 1908, Page 5

ASIATICS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

BLUE BOOK ON THE SUBJECT.. MISGIVING AS TO EFFECT OF LEGISLATION. A GRAVE PROBLEM. Received January 25, 10.59 p.m. LONDON, January 29. A Blue Book just issued, shows the lively misgivings of the Hon. John Morley, Secretary for India, and Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, concerning the possible effect of the Transvaal's legislation in India and abroad. General Botha, Premier of •the Transvaal, before the Acte were sanctioned promised temporary permits to admit distinguished Asiatics by means of their signature instead I of the finger-print system, and promised legislation to restrict the powers of expulsion. The "Chronicle" states that-while the self-governing cobnies are determined to exclude Asiatics the Imperial Government, which ever ' party is in office, cannot dictate a different policy. The problem, the "Chronicle" declares, is a grave one. ADVICE TO NATAL. Received January 29, 11.18 p.m. PRETORIA, January 29. Mr Smuts, in a speech at Pretoria, said that owing to the increase in the. number of Asiatics in Natal it was about time the rest of South Africa took firm action, and he preferred advice to Natal in the strongest terras. Otherwise Asiatic immigrants would overrun the whole of South Africa. The Transvaal was still willing to register Asiatics if they came forward voluntarily wholesale, and make legal residents of them, and see that they were placed on a proper footing.