DEPUTATION TO LORD SELBORNE 39 has now transpired, in spite of the fact that the then Attorney·General told the Government that the inter- pretation they sought to place upon the law was bad. that, if it went to the Supreme Court, the matter would be decided in favour of British Indians. If, therefore, British Indians have not been sent to locations and are free to trade anywhere they like, and to live where they' like-as I say, it is because it is notwithstanding the intentions of the Government to the contrary. In every instance, Law 3 of 1885 has been, so far as the Indians are concerned» most strictly interpreted against us, and .we have not been allowed advantage of any loopholes that are left in it in our favour. For instance, British Indians are not debarred from owning landed property in "streets, wards, or locations that may be set apart" by the Government. The Government have resolutely declined to consider the words "streets and wards," and have simply clung to the world locations, and these locations. too, have been established miles away. We have pleaded hard, saying that the Government have the power to give us the right to ownership of land in streets and wards, that they should make use of that power in our favour, but the plea has been in vain. Even land which is being used for religious purposes, the Govern- ment would not transfer in the names of the trustees, as in Johannesburg, Heidelburg, Pretoria and Potcbefst- room, although the mosque premises are good in every respect, from a sanitary standpoint. It is time, we therefore submit, that some relief was granted to us, while new legislation is under consideration. CLASS LEGISLATION As to the new legislation to replace Law 3 of 1885 the despatch drawn by Sir Arthur Lawley has caused us
