HC Deb 15 February 1881 vol 258 c1730
MR. MACFARLANE

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If, before the annexation of the Transvaal, the holding of land by the natives of the country was illegal; and if, in any negotiations tending to give the Boers independence, or semi-independence, he will stipulate that the rights and liberties of the Natives shall be duly protected?

MR. GRANT DUFF

Sir, Article 9 of the Constitution Ordinance of the late South African Republic runs as follows:— The people will not allow of any equality between coloured and white inhabitants, either in Church or State. That principle was certainly carried into effect to a great extent in the land legislation of the Republic. The hon. Member will find an explanation of the state of the law, which is somewhat obscure, and could hardly be explained in the answer to a Question, at pages 2 and 3 of the Blue Book (C. 2,482). In any new arrangements which may be made with reference to the Transvaal the hon. Member may rest assured that the interests of the Natives will most certainly not be overlooked.