MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifon)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General whether British Uitlanders who 507 will avail themselves of the facilities to obtain the franchise in the Transvaal now being provided by the South African Republic will on returning to their native country be in the position of aliens, and will have to reside nearly six years in this country before they can obtain the franchise here; whether during that period of exclusion they will be ineligible as Members of Parliament, county and municipal councils, and every other local authority; and whether Her Majesty's Government will apprise the British Uitlanders that these serious disqualifications will result from the renunciation of allegiance to the British Crown.
§ SIR R. B. FINLAYI am not in a position to answer the first and second paragraphs of this question until a definite statement of the nature of the facilities to be granted for obtaining the franchise in the Transvaal has been obtained. The papers which have been published contain full information upon the general question referred to in the third paragraph of the question.
§ MR. NUSSEY (Pontefract)Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of introducing a Bill next session to enable British citizens who have lost their rights in this country owing to their absence abroad——
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That hardly arises out of the question.