§ MR. G. GREENWOOD (Peterborough)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Natal Indemnity Bill has passed both Houses of the Colonial legislature; whether the Government are now in possession of the terms of such Bill: whether those terms are identical with the terms of The Natal Indemnity Act, 1906, with the omission of Section 9 of that Act; and whether he will lay a copy of the Bill upon the Table before the debate upon the Colonial Office Vote.
§ COLONEL SEELYYes, Sir, the Bill has passed. It is similar to, but not identical with, the Act of 1906, the provisions for the prospective operation of the indemnity being omitted. Details will be found in the Papers distributed to-day.
DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford)On behalf of the hon. Member for the Woodstock division of Oxfordshire, I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether, in view of the obligation undertaken by the British taxpayer to provide Dinizulu's salary, His Majesty's Government will make every effort to secure the trial or release of the chief without further delay.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Secretary of State understands that the preliminary examination is practically concluded, so far as the prosecution is concerned, and it is therefore to be hoped that Dinizulu will soon be brought to trial or released. The Secretary of State is not in a position to interfere in regard to the course of the proceedings.