Items, too, of considerable importance appear in the advances, although they have really been accounted for up to within a pound or two, because for one reason or another it has not been possible to write off the exact total, the amounts still to be accounted for having dwindled to a very insignificant figure.

The contention that during 1896 a sum of L191,837 was paid out of the Secret Service Money is also absolutely unfounded, for in that amount a sum of L158,337 was included which was used for special Government Works, as was expressly stated in a foot-note on page 44 of the Estimates for 1897.  The Secret Service Fund for that year (1896) did not amount to more than L33,500.  This faulty information, supplied to Her Majesty’s Government, is apparently taken from the said Estimates, it would seem with the fixed determination to ignore the explanatory foot-note on page 44.

It is incorrect to state that the system of granting concessions remains in full force.  Where the Right Hon. the Secretary of State in his despatch refers to industrial concessions, this Government may remark that these are privileges granted in order to stimulate and protect local industry, and the contention that these concessions will develop into practical monopolies is not supported by any evidence; results will show that misleading information has been given here as well.

With regard to the question of education which has been dealt with in the dispatch of the Right Hon. the Colonial Secretary, this Government wishes to point out that the amount expended on education during the year 1898 was L226,219 4s. 8d.  In the former year it was less.  Of this amount L36,503 17s. 2d. was devoted to Education on the Gold Fields (for State as well as for subsidized schools).  As the number of scholars under Act 15, 1896, as well as that of the teachers, have considerably increased, the amount during the current year will probably be L53,000.  The conditions on which this money is given are certainly not such as to exclude the children of Uitlanders from its benefits.  According to Volksraad Resolution of 1st June, 1892 (and amendments), schools where a foreign language was the medium of instruction were entitled to a subsidy of 20s. per pupil per quarter for the lower standard, and 25s. for the middle standard, provided that certain requirements as to knowledge of the official language of the country were complied with.  These requirements are a standard lower than that for children of burghers in the country, who are taught in schools governed by Law No. 8 of 1892.