House of Assembly: Vol1 - FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4 1910
The ACTING CLERK read a communication from His Excellency the Governor-General announcing that Parliament would be opened by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn that day at noon.
By direction of Mr. SPEAKER,
read a Commission from His Excellency the Right Honourable Viscount Gladstone, G.C.M.G., Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Union of South Africa, dated the 1st November, 1910, authorising the Hon. James Tennant Molteno, Speaker of the House of Assembly, to administer, during the continuance of this Parliament, to all and singular the members of the House who have been, elected, but not yet sworn, or who may hereafter be elected, the Oath, or affirmation of allegiance, required by the fifty-first section of “The South Africa Act.”
introduced by Mr. Silburn and Mr. Myburgh, subscribed to the Oath, and took his seat.
introduced by Mr. Wilcocks and Mr. Serfontein, subscribed to the Oath, and took his seat.
Mr. SPEAKER reported that, on the 2nd inst., he had proceeded to Government House, accompanied by the Minister of the Interior (who specially represented the Prime Minister), Mr. Scarle, Mr. Merriman and other members of the House, where they were received by His Excellency the Right Honourable Viscount Gladstone, G.C. M.G., and that Mr. Speaker had said: “May it please Your Excellency, the House of Assembly, acting upon Your Excellency’s directions, and in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges under ‘The South Africa Act, 1909,’ have proceeded to the election of Speaker. Their choice having fallen upon me, I now present and submit myself with all humility for His Most Gracious Majesty’s approval.”
His Excellency replied: “Mr. Molteno. I am very glad to find that the House of Assembly has made so good a choice. I assure you of His Majesty’s sense of your sufficiency, and that His Majesty most fully approves and confirms you as the Speaker.”
moved that the House do now suspend business until 3 o’clock.
The motion was agreed to, and business was suspended.
The House resumed at 3 p.m.
Prayers having been read,
Mr. SPEAKER appointed the Minister of the Interior and Dr. Jameson a committee to assist him in regard to the printing of the House.
Mr. SPEAKER reported that the House had during the interval, attended the ceremony of the opening of Parliament by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, and that His Royal Highness had delivered His Majesty’s messages to both Houses of Parliament as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,—On the 21st February last, my beloved and deeply-lamented brother, King Edward, in his Speech to the Imperial Parliament, dwelt on the establishment of the Union of South Africa, and on his desire that his son, then Prince of Wales, should make an extended tour through the Dominion, and open in his name the first session of the new Parliament.
But by the inscrutable ordering of events, that purpose, charged with so deep an interest and meaning for all his subjects both here and at Home, was not to be fulfilled The sudden calamity which within a few weeks bereaved the Empire of its revered Sovereign, thus fell with particular severity upon South Africa herself. It broke the chain of close and abiding forethought which linked my illustrious brother to the welfare of this great territory, and effaced at one blow all those well-planned arrangements for doing high honour to the birth of the Union Parliament which held a prominent place in his thoughts even during the closing hours of his life.
I have it in command from the King to convey to South Africa the expression of his keen and profound regret that, he has for the present been deprived of the gratification of coming amongst, you in person. To have been here upon this great historic, occasion would have been to His Majesty.) and also to the Queen, an inestimable plea: sure; but the imperative and pressing duties and labours which at this time have crowded upon His Majesty make it impossible for the King to be absent from the Mother-country.
His Majesty has, therefore, conferred on me the honour of representing him to-day. He has bidden me to assure you of his heartfelt gratitude for the warm sympathy, extended by the whole of South Africa to himself and his family in the irreparable loss which they have sustained.
The King, as you are well aware, is no stranger to his Dominions beyond the seas; his association with them is life-long, and they hold a large place in his heart. His Majesty well knows that you have passed through the fire of sorrow and trouble, and that misunderstanding and conflict have brought calamity upon the land. But all this is now peacefully buried with the past. He recognises, too, that here, as elsewhere, there must always exist marked divergence of political opinion. Such divisions, indeed, of thought and action are of the essence of full, free, and responsible Government—the Government which you now enjoy.
The King rejoices in the knowledge that the auspicious Union of his South African Dominions has already made for the social and material progress of his people, and he feels assured that all South Africans will work steadfastly and honourably for the welfare of their great and beautiful country.
It is His Majesty’s earnest prayer that this Union, so happily achieved, may, under God’s guidance, prove a lasting blessing to you all, and that it will tend to the ever-increasing advantage and prosperity of South Africa and the British Empire.
Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,—It affords me much pleasure to convey to you this message from the King. I now, in His name and on His behalf, declare this Parliament open.
Telegram from His Majesty the King to His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught communicated to the Union Parliament—Although it has been ordained that I should not be with you on this great occasion, my thoughts and prayers are to-day for South Africa, and for her lasting Union. I earnestly trust that, for the sake of the people as a whole, your great country may, by God’s blessing, under wise guidance and statesmanship, progress from year to year, ever increasing in wisdom, happiness and prosperity.
By direction of His Royal Highness,
His Excellency the GOVERNOR-GENERAL delivered an Opening Speech to both Houses of Parliament, as follows:
Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Senate.—
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,—
His Majesty the King has honoured you by deputing His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught to open the session of the first Parliament of the Union in the Mother City of South Africa, and to deliver the speech to which we have just listened with keen appreciation. You will no doubt desire at the earliest opportunity to send a fitting and grateful reply to His Majesty.
It is a matter of deep regret that the death of our beloved Sovereign, King Edward VII, prevented His Majesty King George from being here in person on this historic occasion. It will be ever present in your minds that his late Majesty, who was so profoundly interested in the welfare of South Africa, assented to the Act of Union. The Act has laid the foundation of a new nationality in this great country, and under its provisions you are now assembled in Parliament. To establish, strengthen, and protect this nationality in the true spirit of the Act is the first duty of Parliament.
The Public Services and Departments of the four Colonies which have been absorbed in the Union have to be consolidated on a uniform basis. Much inquiry and anxious consideration are necessary for this task.
In conformity with the terms of the South Africa Act, I have appointed a Commission to make such recommendations for reorganisation and readjustment of the Departments of the Public Service as may be necessary. My Ministers will await the report of the Commission before proposing any comprehensive legislation. Some changes are, however, urgently required, and in respect to these my Ministers will submit measures to you. A Commission has also been appointed to inquire into and to make recommendations for the readjustment of the present duties of Customs, the promotion of local industries and cognate matters.
The legislation of the various South African Colonies which entered the Union differs materially in many important respects and imposes varying and unequal rates of taxation in the several Provinces. In all such cases it will sooner or later be necessary, by alteration and consolidation, to substitute uniform laws applying to the whole Union. It is manifest that complete uniformity in taxation can only be brought about gradually. But there are certain matters in which uniformity is urgently necessary, and you will be asked to make provision for that purpose during this session of Parliament.
Among the measures which will be submitted to you will be Bills dealing with the Audit, Naturalisation, Railways, and Harbours, Posts and Telegraphs, immigration, and Stock and Plant Diseases.
The problems of South African defence are engaging the earnest attention of the Government.
My Ministers are also considering a scheme for the establishment of a National South African University, which will be submitted for your approval in due course. Their proposals will be framed with full regard to the position and interests of the important institutions which for many years have successfully laboured in the field of Higher Education.
Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,—
Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure will be laid before you. The South Africa Act gave the Government authority to meet current expenditure out of the revenue of the Union from the date of Union until two months after the meeting of Parliament, and my Ministers have acted under this authority. Nevertheless, the Estimates which will be submitted to you cover the period from the 31st May, 1910, till March the 31st, 1911. This variation from the usual period is made necessary by (the proposal of my Ministers in future to terminate the financial year on the 31st of March. Provison will also have to be made for the expenditure of the next financial year, ending the 31st of March, 1912, and Estimates will be laid before you for that purpose.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate,—
Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,—
The establishment of the Union removes from the path of South Africa many of the obstacles which have retarded her progress and development in the past, and the new era now opening before you is rich in the possibilities of great industrial and agricultural expansion.
It is my fervent prayer that in attaining peace, security, and material prosperity your aspirations will also be constantly directed to the consummation of the complete national unity essential to the high place which South Africa is destined to take among the self-governing Dominions of the British Empire; and that in and with the spirit of moderation, forbearance, and wisdom you will render the great work of Union a blessing to yourselves and to your posterity, and an enduring basis for the future political, moral, and national welfare of South Africa.
And may the blessing of Almighty God rest upon your labours.
presented a petition from the Rev. A. I. Steytler, senior minister of the Dutch Reformed Church of the Cape Colony, and the Rev. J. P. van Heerden, assistant minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, Cape Town, and Actuarius of the Synod, praying for leave to introduce a Bill to legalise the union with each other of the Hutch Reformed Churches existing in the several Provinces of the Union of South Africa, and to make further provision in respect of the United Church.
Ordered to lie on the table.
appointed Mr. Vosloo and Mr. Fichardt to be Examiners on the petition.
asked if it were not in accordance with the rules of the House that the Estimates of Expenditure for the year should be laid on the table on the first day of business.
A statement will be made just now on that point.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, as an unopposed motion, that His Excellency the Governor-General be requested, by respectful address, to convey to His Majesty the King, through the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the sincere and heartfelt sympathy of the people of South Africa in the great, loss sustained by Their Majesties the King and Queen, the Queen Mother, and the Royal Family, in the death of our beloved Sovereign, His late Majesty King Edward the Seventh, the sad tidings of which plunged the whole of South Africa into the most profound sorrow and regret.
in seconding, moved as a further unopposed motion, that the resolution be taken standing.
This was agreed to, and the motion was unanimously agreed to, all the members standing.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, as an unopposed motion, that His Excellency the Governor-General be requested, by respectful address to convey to His Majesty the King, through the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the (humble congratulations, and dutiful homage of the people of the Union of South Africa on His Majesty’s accession to the Throne, and their earnest prayer that his reign may be long and happy, and be associated with peace and the ever-increasing prosperity of the Empire.
seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, as an unopposed motion, that a Select Committee be appointed, with power to confer with a Select Committee of the Senate, for the purpose of preparing a joint address to His Majesty the King in reply to His Majesty’s most gracious message, which has been conveyed by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn to the Parliament of the Union of South Africa, the committee to consist of the (Speaker, Dr. Jameson, and General Botha.
seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, as an unopposed motion, that His Excellency the Governor-General be requested, by respectful address, to extend, on behalf of the people of the Union, their humble and loyal greetings and cordial and affectionate welcome to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn, on the auspicious occasion of their visit to South Africa, and also to convey to His Royal Highness their grateful thanks for undertaking the arduous duty of journeying to South Africa for the purpose of opening the first Parliament of the Union, in the name, and on behalf of, His Majesty the King.
seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
stated that the following message had been received from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies by His Excellency the Governor-General: “His Majesty’s Government offer their cordial greetings to the new Assembly on the threshold of its labours in the service of a people now united by indissoluble ties. They cherish the confident assurance that it will discharge the great responsibilities committed to its core with wholehearted devotion to the public weal, and that it will always be a loyal guardian of the constitutional liberties of South Africa. I desire to add a warm expression of my own good wishes as Secretary of State for the Colonies.—(Sgd.) Crewe.”
further intimated that steps would be taken to request His Excellency the Governor-General to send a suitable reply on behalf of the Legisature of the Union.
announced that Mr. Fisher, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, who was present on that memorable occasion as representative of the people of Australia, had handed him a resolution adopted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth, conveying to the Parliament of the Union most cordial congratulations upon the establishment of the Union and wishing South Africa God-speed. The resolution was as if allows: “Commonwealth of Australia.— Resolution adopted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth:‘ South African Union. —That the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia offers most cordial congratulations to the Parliament of the Union of South Africa upon the establishment of a National Government and Legislature for the Dominion capable, under the blessing of Divine Providence, of accomplishing the tasks required for the development of its Provinces and for the unity of the Empire.’—Parliament House, Melbourne, October 5, 1910.”
thereupon moved as an unopposed motion, seconded by Dr. T. W. SMARTT (Fort Beaufort): That the Prime Minister of the Union be requested to convey to the Honourable the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, on behalf of the Union Parliament, an expression of its sincere appreciation and thanks for the cordial and sympathetic resolution transmitted by the Commonwealth Parliament.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to inform hon. members that I have received the following letter from Mr. Fowlds, the Minister of Education of the Dominion of New Zealand, who is present with us to-day, as representative of the people of that Dominion:
Cape Town, October 31, 1910.
Sir,—As the representative of New Zealand, I am desired to present to the Union Parliament the following resolution passed by each House of the General Assembly of that Dominion Resolved: “That this House heartily congratulate the South African Union Parliament upon the establishment of a National Government.” In requesting you to be so good as to submit the resolution to the Senate and the House of Assembly, I have pleasure in saying that it expresses the unanimous feeling of the Parliament and the people of New Zealand. — I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) GEO. FOWLDS
(Minister of Education).
thereupon moved as an unopposed motion, seconded by Dr. T. W. SMARTT (Fort Beaufort) that the Prime Minister of the Union be requested to convey to the Right Honourable the Prime Minister of New Zealand, through the Honourable the Minister of Education (Mr. Fowlds), the sincere appreciation and thanks of this Parliament for the New Zealand Parliament’s hearty congratulation on the establishment of the Union of South Africa.
Agreed to.
stated that Mr. Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr had been nominated by the Government, subject to the approval of this House, to act as Clerk of the House, and further that in connection with the remainder of the permanent staffs of the House of Assembly and joint Parliamentary establishments, it was proposed to ask the House to refer that matter, as well as the question of pensions or gratuities, to those officers who were not provided for, and who might not be retained either in the Executive of Parliamentary services of the Union, to the Select Committee on Internal Arrangements so soon as that committee had been appointed; and that meanwhile arrangements had been made for the temporary performance of the duties attached to the services of the House and joint Parliamentary establishment.
(1) A copy of a letter addressed to him by the Prime Minister of Newfoundland, in which he expressed his regret that it, was not possible for him, or any of his colleagues, to be present at the opening of Parliament, and wishing the Union success; (2) a copy of correspondence on the same subject which had passed between the Union Government and the Governor-General of Mozambique; and (3) a copy of a telegram from the Right Honourable the Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada conveying the congratulations and best wishes of the Government and people of Canada to the people of South Africa on the occasion of the opening of the first Union Parliament.
The correspondence was as follows:
Prime Minister’s Office, St. John’s,
Newfoundland, September 20, 1910.
Dear Sir,—I have do acknowledge the receipt of your communication of June 14, which I found here on my arrival home from England a few days ago, after an absence of five months. On behalf of the Government and people of Newfoundland, as well as for myself, permit me to tender you my warmest thanks for your cordial invitation to the opening of the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa, which takes place on the 4th of next November. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to avail of your invitation, for many reasons: First, because I should have wished to have taken even a slight part in so historic and Imperial a function; second, to show the good feeling and good will which exists between this colony and your great Dominion; and, third, because I have never seen South Africa myself, and would much wish to visit a country of which I have heard so much, and which has so great a future ahead of it. I have already had occasion to cable you my reply to your kind invitation, and have also to thank you for yours of September 6 in reply to that cable. I regret that none of my colleagues are in a position to accept your invitation, as at present three of them are out of the colony, and others are contemplating leaving here in a few days. Wishing you every success on this auspicious occasion—the birth of a new Empire,—Believe me, yours very faithfully,
(Signed) E. F. MORRIS,
Prime Minister.
Hon. Louis Botha, Prime Minister of South Africa, Pretoria.
Governor-General’s Office,
Cape Town, October 29, 1910.
The Governor-General transmits herewith for the information of Ministers, with reference to their Minute, No. 524, of September 23, a copy of the undermentioned document, on the subject of the inability of the Governor-General of the Province of Mozambique to accept the invitation of the Union Government to be present at the opening of the first Union Parliament.
(Sgd.) GLADSTONE,
Governor-General.
[Translation.]
Governor-General of Mozambique.
Your Excellency,—In acknowledging the receipt of Your Excellency’s letter of the 29th September, I have the honour, with much regret, to say that in consequence of the pressure of circumstances connected with the internal administration of the colony, and necessitating my presence here, I find myself deprived of the possibility of accepting the invitation so gratifying to this Government and to myself, which Your Excellency has deigned to convey to me, to be present at the opening of the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, and also to be the guest of the Union Government during my stay in Cape Town. So with my prayers for the increased prosperity of the colonies of the Union, I beg Your Excellency to accept my excuses, and ask you to be good enough to transmit to Your Excellency’s Ministers, with an expression of my deep regret for my inability to be present in person at Cape Town at the moment when a new era is opening for South Africa, the sentiment of this colony’s friendship and the respectful compliments which we all offer to His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, for whom this colony entertains the most respectful admiration, and whose visit is for ever in its memory.
(Sgd.) A. FREIRE D’ANDRADE,
Governor-General.
October 22.
Governor-General’s Office,
Cape Town, October 29, 1910.
The Governor-General transmits herewith for the information of Ministers, with reference to his Minute, No. 23-90, of 29th October, a copy of the undermentioned document, on the subject of the opening of the first Union Parliament.
(Sgd.) GLADSTONE,
Governor-General,
[Translation.]
Telegram from Governor-General, Mozambique, to Governor General, Cape Town.
October 28, 1910.—On the occasion of the opening of the first Parliament of the South African Union, allow me to express, through you, my sincere wishes on behalf of the Province of Mozambique for the prosperity and the development of the colonies under the distinguished administration of Your Excellency, which wishes it would have afforded me the greatest pleasure to express to you personally had I not been prevented from leaving this Province by most important matters.
Telegram from Wilfred Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario, to General Louis Botha, Primo Minister, Gape Town.
On the occasion of the opening of the first South African Parliament, I beg to tender you the wishes and hopes of the Canadian Government and people that the Act of Union may ensure to the whole people of South Africa, irrespective of creed and origin, the same measures of peace, harmony, liberty, and prosperity which the Act of Confederation has secured to the people of Canada.
With the indulgence of the House I should like to make a short statement in regard to the business of the House, and to amplify somewhat the information contained in the speech of His Excellency the Governor-General. I am sorry to say that I expect the programme of work for the session to be a somewhat heavy one. To begin with, two sets of Estimates will have to be passed; that is to say, the Estimates of Expenditure for the ten months, May 31, 1910, to March 31, 1911, and the Estimates for the financial year following,” from April 1, 1011, to March 31, 1912. I need scarcely point out that most of the period covered by the first Estimates will have expired by the time we can hope to have them through Parliament. As honourable members are aware, it was anticipated that, owing to the General Election having to be held, and other intervening business, Parliament would not be able to meet for some months after the establishment of the Union. The South Africa Act, therefore, authorised the Government to meet the necessary current expenditure from the consolidated revenue fund for a limited period. Under this authority the administration of the country has been carried on since May 31, and much of the expenditure now included in these Estimates has already been incurred. Notwithstanding this, we shall submit for the approval of the House the Estimates of Expenditure for the whole period, and thus afford the House the fullest opportunity to discuss the actions of the Government since the establishment of Union. It is proposed to alter the end of the financial year from June 30 to March 31, in order to meet the wishes and convenience of the members, who the Government understand are anxious that Parliament should sit in the summer months at Cape Town. If Parliament agree to this proposal, and meet here in the summer months, it will obviously also be necessary during the present session to pass the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year ending March 31, 1912. I regret that owing to the time that has been taken up by the preparation of the Estimates, and especially the difficulties encountered in drawing up in a consolidated form Estimates formerly prepared separately for the four colonies, it will not be possible to lay them on the table immediately. They are, however, being printed as fast as possible, and will be laid 6n the table at the earliest possible opportunity. In addition to the double Estimates, Parliament will be asked to deal with a good deal of necessary legislation. The Bills to be brought forward by the Government really fall under four heads. Firstly, Bills rendered necessary by the consolidation of departments and services, which exist at present under different Statutes of the old colonies, such as railways, posts, Customs, audit, police, prisons, the administration of estates, and others. Secondly, Bills relating to matters formerly dealt with on different lines by the legislation of the colonies, but in respect of which uniformity has now become necessary under the Union; such as marriages, naturalisation, immigration, plant, and stock diseases, and others. Thirdly, Bills dealing with the financial situation. At present varying systems of taxation prevail in the Provinces, in consequence of the divergent financial policies pursued by the former colonies. However, desirable and necessary it is to assimilate these different systems, it is obvious that it will require time to carry out such a policy completely. In the meantime, the Government will this session introduce a number of finance measures intended to establish a first instalment of uniform taxation throughout the Union. Fourthly, the removal of all Constitutional obstacles by means of the Act of Union makes it now possible for the Parliament and Government to adopt a vigorous forward policy, with a view to the agricultural and industrial development of the resources of South Africa. The particular manner intended to carry this policy into effect will be announced at a later date. It must be obvious that the carrying out of the programme just outlined will occupy a good deal of time. The Government would therefore suggest that this House sit till about the middle of December and after an adjournment over the Christmas holidays, resume business about the middle of January, and thereafter continue the sittings as long as may be necessary in order to get through these questions.
I would like to have further information in reference to the question of the Estimates. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister has stated that the Estimates are now in course of being printed, and wall be laid on the table shortly. Now that is very indefinite, and perhaps the right hon. gentleman will tell the House what that means—whether it means a week or a fortnight or a month. I hope he will be able to give some definite date.
I may tell the hon. member that, as the Prime Minister has stated, the Estimates are in the hands of the printers. We are pushing the printing forward as rapidly as we possibly can. We hope to have the Estimates ready to lay on the table by the middle of the present month.
Surely before that. I have never known Parliament to meet without Estimates being put on the table of the House at its first meeting. This House has been in session practically a week—since last Monday Surely it is not treating the House fairly. I think the Treasurer should give the House a definite date. The printer has, no doubt, given the Hon. Treasurer a definite date, and surely he should give the House a definite date.
I would like to ask the Right Hon. the Prime Minister whether the Estimates will show the actual position of the various colonies as at the 31st of May last?
Of course not. If the hon. member will only think for a moment, he will see how exceedingly foolish his question is. The Estimates will be from the date when Union was established. They will be from the 31st of May until the 31st of March next.
I think my question is not a foolish question. All I want to know is, whether the accounts of the Treasurer, when they are made up, will show the actual position on the 31st of May last?
That has nothing to do with the Estimates. The hon. member is referring apparently to the Appropriation Accounts. These are at present in the hands of the Auditor-General, and as soon as the Auditor-General has gone through the accounts they also will be laid before the House
When will that be?
That I cannot stay; I am in the hands of the Auditor-General. The hon. member knows that it has been customary in South Africa to have these accounts never earlier than the beginning of the year, and how be expects the Auditor-General to have the accounts ready now with, all these voluminous and complicated statements, necessitated in consequence of Union, I cannot understand.
Might I point out that the Government have been in office for five months, and that during that period of time they have had plenty of opportunity for preparing the Estimates, and for having them printed and ready to lay on the table when the House met. I should like to ask the Hon. the Treasurer when he proposes to take up the old procedure of the old Cape Colony, that is, of having statements of the revenue and expenditure printed monthly in the “Government Gazette,” so that the public can see from month to month what the financial position of the country is? I understand that the Government up to the present have never issued a financial statement of that kind, but I think the House would agree that it would be a good thing if the Government adopted the old procedure followed in the Cape of publishing the accounts, which are the property of the people who have a perfect right to know what the position is.
I would point out to the House that a debate at this stage is not in order. A statement has been made by the Prime Minister, and it is not in order for the House now to debate it.
I should like to ask another question. It has always been the custom in the Cape—
I would advise the hon. member to give notice
All right.
The House adjourned at