THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1909. UNITED SOUTH AFRICA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9550, 24 July 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY SATURDA Y, JULY 24, 1909. UNITED SOUTH AFRICA.

The delegates from the South African colonies now in London to secure the Imperial Assent to the Constitution agreed upon have before them a somewhat more difficult task than that which confronted the Australian delegates at the establishment of the Commonwealth. It will be remembered that the Australians desired to institute Commonwealth law without any provision for apj peal to the Piivy Council, and that this was finally compromised by providing that such appeal must obtain the sanction of the Federal Supreme Court. This amicable solution was j largely due to the strong sympathies ; *itb colonial fe?ling of Mr Joseph ! Chamberlain, then an active power in I British politics, and it remains to be | seen whether there will be as potent ! an influence exerted on the colonial I behalf by the present Colonial Secrej tary. The South Africans, who have merged their political differences in a joint agreement upon the course to be pursued in laying the basis of their great federation, claim that owing to the peculiar difficulties which have beset their mutual negotiations the Constitution as drafted should be accepted by tne Imperial Government. Mr Botha, Premier of thei Transvaal, who is working loyally with his ancient antagonist, Dr Jameson, insists that "Britain muat leave South Africa to solve difficulties which are essentially South African," meaning thereby that the questions of native political rights | and of Asiatic control must be recognised as coming within the domain of local authority. Considerable indignation was excited in the South African colonies by a statement, ascribed to the Colonial Secretary, to the effect that the Imperial Government would make alterations in the Constitution when it was submitted for confirmation. The explanation was subsequently made that any alterations proposed would be in the direction of increasing, not of reducing, the legislative powers of the South African Union. We have, however, the fact that a deputation < from the Mahommedans of South Africa is now in London for the purpose of persuading the Imperial Government to reserve, for Imperial sanctiDn, all legislation affecting Asiatics in Soutli Atricn. This necessarily opens up a most momentous principle, and one upon which all I South Africans. British and Hutch j alike, very keenly. In the Im-[ perial Parliament are many mem- j hers who automatically take the Asiatic side whenever an issue is I raised between Asiatics and Euro- I p-a -, s. Wo hsve s c-r to what an

extent this has harassed government in India. It is hardly likely that the South African Union will be accomplished without a struggle upon this point.