§ MR. WARNERsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is true, as stated in newspapers, that the Governor of the Cape Colony is pursuing a policy in regard to the Kaffirs of which the responsibility has not been assumed by the Colonial Legislature; and whether, in the event of war arising, it might not be difficult under these circumstances to enforce upon the Representative Government of the Colony its obligation to bear the whole burden of internal defence?
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, he apprehended that the policy to which the hon. Member referred related to the Trans Kei territory. The Governor had made a proposal to give to the Kaffirs who were disposed to settle there an eligible settlement; but that was not a policy which, in his opinion, was calculated to promote a Kaffir war within the colony. On the contrary, it was a policy which the Governor carried into effect upon his own responsibility under instructions received from home; and he was sorry to say that the assumption which the hon. Member's question appeared to convey was not warranted by the facts, as the responsibility of defending the colony had always rested upon this country, only a small contribution being made by the colony.