§ Mr. BENNETTasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the complaint by the Transvaal Indian community that the Asiatics Land and Trading Bill, recently passed by the Union Parliament, deprives them of rights heretofore lawfully exercised and further reduces the status of Indians in South Africa; and if he is aware that this legislation is calculated to create resentment in India and to hinder the development amongst the Indian people of a full sense of their citizenship in the British Empire?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI am aware of the representations made by the Transvaal Indian community regarding the Act mentioned. It is, however, a matter of controversy how far the Act constitutes a diminution of existing legal rights enjoyed by Indians on the Transvaal or merely prevents evasion by Indians of existing legislation. In any case I sincerely trust that it will not have the adverse effect suggested.