HC Deb 08 August 1907 vol 180 c304
SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information as to the Bills introduced or read a second time in the Legislative Assembly of the Transvaal on Tuesday last, and especially in respect of the Bill first published in an extraordinary Government Gazette of Saturday 3rd August, abolishing the access of natives to the courts of law in respect of decisions administratively taken by which individual natives or whole tribe s can be transferred against their will from one district to another; and whether any Papers on the subject can be presented to Parliament in advance of the earliest possible occasion on which such measure might become law.

MR. MOLTENO (Dumfrieshire)

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state what is the nature of the Draft Bill, published by the Transvaal Government, dealing with jurisdiction among natives; and whether this measure proposes to deprive the natives of any civil rights such as access to the Courts of Law.

(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Secretary of State has no information beyond what has appeared in the Press, but telegraphic inquiry is being made as to the Bill, which appears to be of such a nature as to require it to be reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure.