§ MR. MACKARNESSI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the total electorate in the Colony of Natal amounts to only 23,688 voters; whether the total number of votes given for all the four members of the present Natal Government was under 2,000; whether this Government has proclaimed, and for many months maintained, martial law in the Colony against the wishes of the Governor and the Imperial Government; whether a petition and declaration of rights has been signed by over 8,000 adult colonists, declaring that responsible government has been practically superseded by an oligarchy, that the incidence of taxation is grievously unjust, and that an absolute confusion has arisen in the relations between the white and black population; whether an amendment of the constitution has been asked for; and, if so, what stops the Secretary of State proposes to take.
§ MR. CHURCHILLA movement for a redistribution of seats in Natal has been proceeding for some time past, and I am aware of the statements with regard to the electoral conditions in this Colony referred to in the Question which have been made in the course of it. The matter is a domestic one which must be left to the people of the Colony. I cannot add anything to the statements which I have already made as to martial law.