§ MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD (Leicester)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information to give to the House regarding certain Bills passed by the Natal Government relating to the administration of Native affairs, and providing, amongst other things, that the Minister for Native Affairs and other officers exercising administrative functions under Native law shall not be subject to any court of law in the Colony by reason of any Act or matter whatsoever done in connection with their official duties, and generally making law in Zululand the ipse dixit of a magistrate; and whether, before His Majesty gives assent to these measures, their text will be laid upon the Table of the House and an opportunity given to discuss them should any considerable body of Members desire to do so.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Bill to provide for the better administration of Native affairs is printed in No. 5 in Cd. 4194. It has not yet been received in its final form and until it has been so received and reported on by the Governor I am not in a position to make any statement with regard to it.
§ MR. RAMSAY MACDONALDCan we have an assurance that the Government will not give their assent until the House has had an opportunity of considering the Bill?
§ COLONEL SEELYsaid that if any considerable number of Members wished to discuss it opportunity might be found.
§ SIR G. PARKER (Gravesend)Will the Bill be laid before the House when received in its final form?
§ COLONEL SEELYIt is impossible for me to say until I have seen it.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKERAs a matter of procedure has not this House a right to claim that a Bill which is reserved and which deals with native affairs shall be reprinted?
§ COLONEL SEELYThat is a question of which I should like notice.
§ MR. RAMSAY MACDONALDHas the hon. Gentleman any idea when the Bill in its final form will be received?
§ COLONEL SEELYI cannot say exactly. I am anxious to give the House the fullest information.