HC Deb 15 March 1906 vol 153 cc1400-1
MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the grievances of the Indian traders in the Transvaal, which led to the refusal of the Indian Government to permit the recruiting of Indian coolies for work in the Transvaal, are the same grievances as those that formed the subject of complaint by the Government of Her late Majesty against the Government of the Transvaal Republic; and what steps have been taken to redress such grievances.

* THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Manchester, N.W.

The main grievance which formed the subject of complaint against the Government of the Republic was their claim to limit the trading rights of British Indians in the country to locations only, which claim was upheld by their High Court in a test case in 1898. This constituted also the main grievance of the Indian Government when the question of employing Indian coolies on railway construction was under consideration in 1903. This grievance was redressed by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Transvaal in May, 1904.

MR. HAROLD COX

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals were made by Lord Milner for conferring municipal rights upon British Indians resident in the Transvaal; why those proposals were abandoned by Lord Milner; and what steps have been taken in the matter by His Majesty's present advisers.

* MR. CHURCHILL

The hon. Member will see on reference to page 15 of Code 2104, that in 1903, when the Municipalities Ordinance was introduced, the Transvaal Government proposed to extend the municipal franchise to aliens and also to coloured British subjects who could pass a certain educational test. This would have admitted British Indians to the franchise. The proposal was abandoned because the unofficial members of Council were unanimous against the clause, and it was asserted by the opponents of any form of native franchise that the proposal was a breach of the spirit, if not of the letter, of the conditions of surrender; no steps in the matter have been taken by His Majesty's present advisers.