§ SIR WILLIAM BULL (Hammersmith)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the case, recently tried before Mr. Justice Maasdorp of Bapau, a British-Indian, who was domiciled in the Cape Colony prior to 1906, and who, having gone on a visit to India without having provided himself with a permit authorising him temporarily to absent himself from the Colony, is now, upon his return, threatened with expulsion; and, if so, what action he proposes to take.
§ COLONEL SEELYYes, Sir. I understand that the Indian failed to avail himself of the means provided in the Act for protecting existing rights, and is liable, therefore, to exclusion from the Colony because he cannot comply with the general requirements of the law. The Judge, I observe, suggested that the Minister should consider whether some indulgence might not be granted on the ground of misunderstanding and the Cape Government will no doubt give due weight to this suggestion. The Secretary 765 of State will inquire what decision has been arrived at in the matter.