§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, inasmuch as the Australian Colonies passed Acts establishing Responsible Government, in pursuance of Acts of the British Parliament enabling them to do so, there has been, or will be, any such enabling Act for Natal; whether Her Majesty's Government are advised that the Colonial Legislature can estab- 1071 lish Responsible Government, and Her Majesty's assent can be given without reference to Parliament; whether Her Majesty's Government have led the Colonial Legislature to believe that they are willing to advise assent to Responsible Government, practically confined to a white population of about 37,000, out of a total of upwards of 500,000; what would in that case become of Zululand, and who would pay for it; and whether, looking to the civil and military questions involved, Her Majesty's Government will give Parliament an opportunity of discussing the matter before anything final is done?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSNo legislation by this Parliaments necessary for the purpose of conferring Responsible Government upon a colony, unless there has been Imperial legislation with regard to such colony requiring modification in order to enable the political change to be made. The Colonial Legislature has been informed that, subject to the enactment of special provisions for the protection of inhabitants not of European birth or descent, Her Majesty's Government are willing to grant Responsible Government to Natal. Zululand will remain under the direct control of Her Majesty's Government. No military or civil questions present themselves in this case which would afford ground for the unusual course of inviting Parliament to discuss this subject. When Responsible Government was granted to the Cape Colony in 1872 the procedure was the same as is now being followed in Natal, and the Imperial Parliament did not intervene. Papers will be presented, which may satisfy the hon. Member that the points to which he has called attention have not been overlooked.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLIn consequence of the statement that the Government intend to deal with this important subject without inviting Parliament to consider it, I shall, on the Estimates, move the reduction of the Under Secretary's salary.