Mr. ROBERTSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Transvaal Draft Municipal Ordinance gives to municipalities powers in regard to the segregation of British-Indians which have not hitherto been conferred upon them; whether it contains provisions for the penalising of British-Indian labour employed in useful industries which in some cases may result in the withdrawal of a means of livelihood from the British-Indian labourers; whether it precludes British-Indian ratepayers from exercising the 465W municipal franchise; whether it prohibits or restricts the use of municipal tramcars by respectably dressed British-Indians; and whether the Secretary of State has made representations to the Government of the Union of South Africa with a view to obtaining for the British-Indian residents of the Transvaal a greater measure, and not a diminution of civil liberty?
Mr. HARCOURTMy attention has been drawn to this draft Ordinance, which is of the nature described, and I am in communication with the Governor-General of the Union with regard to it.