DR. RUTH ER F 0R D (Middlesex, Brentford)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the cases of E. M. Hafeejee, M. H. Vowda, Ismail Suleman, Amod Heffeejee, and A. E. Patel, five British Indian residents of long standing in Natal, whoso recent applications to have their names placed upon the town roll of the Estcourt Local Board have been refused, despite the fact that they possessed the necessary property qualification; and whether, in view of the fact that the Municipal Corporations Bill of Natal has not yet received the sanction of His Majesty's Government, he is acquainted with any law in that Colony which empowers magistrates or other officers to deny British Indians possessed of the necessary property qualification the right to be so enrolled.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI have seen a newspaper report of the cases referred to. I understand that the Indians are appealing to the Supreme Court against the magistrates' interpretation of the law.