The Chief Electoral Officer asks whether Mr A.B. should obtain naturalization in the Commonwealth in order to qualify for enrolment as an elector under the following circumstances:

B. was born in Holland, went to South Africa before attaining his majority, and served with the Boer forces during the South African War 1899-1901. His parents never became British subjects. He has never become a naturalized British subject. He was 'annexed' when South Africa became British territory.

The answer to the question asked depends on whether Mr A.B. became a subject of one of the South African Territories at any time before the close of the Boer War.

If he did, he would now be a British subject and entitled to enrolment. If not, he would still remain a Dutch subject, notwithstanding the conquest of South Africa by Britain.

[Vol. 17, p. 31]