§ * MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can explain why the Colonial Office has not yet received a copy of the Bill to provide for the better administration of native affairs, which has been read a third time and passed by both Houses of the Natal Parliament, and was published in the Natal Government Gazette of 1st September ultimo.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Natal Gazette of 1st September contains the Bill as read a third time and passed by the Legislative Assembly. There is nothing in the Gazette to indicate that the Bill was then in its final form, and I observe from the Natal Press that three weeks later the Prime Minister in the Legislative Council moved to retransmit the Bill to the Legislative Assembly certified correct as passed by the Legislative Council with certain Amendments made therein by the Legislative Council. I do not know what those Amendments were.
§ * MR. BYLESDoes not the Bill transfer the duty of protecting the natives formerly imposed on the representative of the Crown to permanent officials of the Natal Government?
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Bill in its final form has not been received as yet.