{54} By this name is known the series of transactions in which Government land in Johannesburg was sold out of hand to certain private individuals at a nominal figure, many thousands of pounds below the then market value.

APPENDIX D.

VOLKSRAAD DEBATES.

Extracts from the Published Reports.

1889.

May 8.—­On the application of the Sheba G. M. Co. for permission to erect an aerial tram from the mine to the mill,

Mr. GROBLAAR asked whether an aerial tram was a balloon or whether it could fly through the air.

The only objection that the Chairman had to urge against granting the tram was that the Company had an English name, and that with so many Dutch ones available.

Mr. TALJAARD objected to the word ‘participeeren’ (participate) as not being Dutch, and to him unintelligible:  ’I can’t believe the word is Dutch; why have I never come across it in the Bible if it is?’

June 18.—­On the application for a concession to treat tailings,

Mr. TALJAARD wished to know if the words ‘pyrites’ and ‘concentrates’ could not be translated into the Dutch language.  He could not understand what it meant.  He had gone to night-school as long as he had been in Pretoria, and even now he could not explain everything to his burghers.  He thought it a shame that big hills should be made on ground under which there might be rich reefs, and which in future might be required for a market or outspan.  He would support the recommendation on condition that the name of the quartz should be translated into Dutch, as there might be more in this than some of them imagined.

REDUCTION OF IMPORT DUTIES ON EATABLES.

June 20.—­Mr. WOLMARANS said the diggers simply did not want to buy from the Boers; there was plenty of meat and bread in the land, and the Boers could not get good prices for their cattle.

Mr. VAN HEERDEN could not see how the inhabitants of the State would benefit in the least by lowering the tariff.

Messrs. LOMBAARD and WOLMARANS both declared that when duties were at their highest groceries etc. were at their cheapest.

Mr. TALJAARD thought that members who were in favour of lowering the tariff did not act for the benefit of the country.

1890.

May 29.—­A discussion of considerable length took place on a petition from burghers of Gatsrand, Potchefstroom district, praying that at least two-thirds of the Government money now lying idle in the banks should be given out to agriculturists as loans, and the remainder for other purposes.

July 2.—­His Honour was asked why he did not suppress all sweepstakes and races.

The PRESIDENT said gambling and lotteries were in conflict with the Word of God, but it was also the duty of man to have exercise and to exercise his horses.  For that reason an exception had been made in the Bill as to horse-races, etc.