On Tuesday the Transvaal Constitution was outlined in both Houses
of Parliament. The principle of" One vote one value" is accepted, and the electoral division is to be based on voters, not on population. The suffrage is to be given to all males over twenty-one (excluding the British garrison) who have resided in the Transvaal for six months. The old Magisterial areas are to be taken, but divided into single-Member constituencies. The Representative House is to number 69 Members, elected for five years. The Rand, including Srugersdorp Rural, is to have 34 Members, Pretoria is to have 6, and the rest of the country 29. This will probably give a majority of two or three to the British, but it may also give the Boers a small majority, for there is no certainty as to how the voting will go. The Members are to be paid, Dutch or English is to be spoken at the option of the Members, and the Speaker is to be paid and vacate his seat after election. There is to be a Second Chamber, nominated to begin with, but afterwards elected. Swaziland is to be reserved for administration by the High Commissioner. There is to be a Land Board to protect the interests of settlers. A clause will be added abrogating the Chinese Labour Ordinance after a reasonable time, and no new Ordinance will receive assent which sanctions any condition of service of a servile character.
Previous page
