HC Deb 21 March 1904 vol 132 cc232-3
MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies has Lord Milner power to prohibit any British subject from entering the Transvaal; if so, is his power limited by any conditions, or is it exercised at his own uncontrolled discretion without appeal; and does it extend to Orange River Colony; whence is this power derived, and in how many cases has it been exercised since the conclusion of the South African War; and will His Majesty's Government consider the propriety of making such arrangements as will enable British subjects to have the same rights of access to all South African Colonies as they have to the rest of His Majesty's dominions beyond the seas.

MR. LYTTELTON

The power in question is regulated in the Transvaal by the Peace Preservation Ordinances printed as an appendix to Cd. 1896 which is published to-day. Similar legislation exists in the Orange River Colony. I cannot say in how many cases permits have been refused to British subjects since the end of the war. Having regard to recent experience I am not satisfied that the time has yet arrived for the amendment of the present law; but it is proposed later on to enact in substitution for the present system legislation on the lines of the Natal and Cape Immigration Restriction Acts.