§ MR. HULSE(Salisbury): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Home Government are prepared to approve of the proposed alterations in the internal government of the Crown Colony of Natal, in view of the fact that the majority of votes recorded by the European population in Natal was only 2,596 against 2,503?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSMy hon. Friend is under some misapprehension as to the exact numbers voting at the last general election in Natal. The numbers were 2,121 in favour of the proposed constitutional changes; and 1,937 against. The number of Members returned in favour of them was 14, and 10 against— the majority being thus one-sixth of the number of Members selected. Under these circumstances, it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to withdraw the question from further consideration.
§ SIR R. FOWLER(London):, May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the Secretary of State has advised Her Majesty to assent to these constitutional changes?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSNo, Sir. As I have explained before to the House, there are certain questions still pending between the Natal Government and Her Majesty's Government, and when they are settled, and settled satisfactorily, the question of approving the proposed changes will be considered.