and then come again. Then he holds
out hopes that their wishes will be met. Why then does he not support
Mr. Meyer's proposal, which affects naturalized people only? What
is it I am to advise the people of Johannesburg? I have had many
suggestions from different members. You, Mr. Chairman, seem to
support the hundred men from Lydenburg who suggest ten years'
residence as a qualification. Mr. Jan Meyer suggests that those who
came early to the goldfields should memorialize separately, and he
would support them. Others say that only those who are naturalized
should petition, and that if a few hundreds petitioned instead of
35,000, their reception would be different. Well, we have had one
petition here wherein all these conditions were complied with. It was
not signed by anyone who had not been here ten years, or who is not
naturalized, or who could at all be suspected of being unfaithful,
nor could any exception be taken to it on the ground of numbers,
since it was signed by one man only, Mr. Justice Morice, and yet it
was rejected. Gentlemen, I am anxiously groping for the light; but
what, in the face of this, am I to advise my people?

Mr. JAN DE BEER endeavoured to refute Messrs. Jeppe's and Loveday's
statements, when they said a man could not become a full member until
he was forty. They were out of their reckoning, because a man did not
live until he was sixteen. He was out of the country. In the eyes of
the law he was a foreigner until he was sixteen. (Laughter.) The
member adduced other similar arguments to refute those of Messrs.
Jeppe and Loveday, causing much laughter.

Mr. LOVEDAY replied to the President, especially referring to his
Honour's statement that he (Mr. Loveday) was wrong when he said that
a person would have to wait until he was forty before he could obtain
the full rights. He (Mr. Loveday) repeated and emphasized his
statements of yesterday.

The CHAIRMAN said there was no doubt about it. What Mr. Loveday said
regarding the qualifications and how long a man would have to wait
until he was qualified to become a full burgher was absolutely
correct. It could not be contradicted. The law was clear on that
point. There was no doubt about it.

Mr. JAN DE BEER: Yes; I see now Mr. Loveday is right, and I am wrong.
The law does say what Mr. Loveday said. It must be altered.

The debate was closed on the third day, and Mr. Otto's motion to
accept the report of the majority of the Committee, to refuse