GERMANY'S LITTLE WAR.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12480, 17 April 1906, Page 7

GERMANY'S LITTLE WAR.

ESCAPE OF MORENGA,

LONDON, April 15. The chief Morenga, after returning from British territory, hid in a deep rocky defile at the foot of a gorge. The German- attacked him, 10.-ing eight troopers killed and several wounded. Morenga escaped in an easterly direction.

[The last number of the "Natal Mercury' to hand contains an interview witu Mr W. K. Gordon, an ex-AlagiS-trate, whose knowledge ot tbe iNatal natives extends over ntty year.. Mr Gordon expressed tlie opinion that the power of Uie chicle s_ou,_ be curtailed. - 1 have always been against Uie duets having criniiiial jurisdiction," he earn. "They should have no power at all, but bo simply figureheads, and report, all matters to the Magistrate. It was a mistake that a cinef should nave power to imperii; fines-. A chief choulu uo paid a handsome sum for his services." ..... - How do you think the Ethiopian movement is affecting the natives.- ' "I think the Ethiopians should be banished. No Ethiopian should lie allowed to form a scnofll of hits own, unless there is a resident European mii-sionai-y in the district; and every sermon should be submitted to him. in that way there would bo moro control. It is not good policy to allow tho Ethiopian mis-sionaries to get a strong footing in the colony. if they do come, they should bo under proper supervision. They preach an opposito doctrine to tho European missionarieo; they preach the doctrine- of Africa, for the blacks." "What v.re your views on the pall-tax, Mr Gordon?" *'I am in, favour of retaining the polltax absolutely permanently—that is, amongst, the natives—and abolishing the hut-tax. Tho hut-tax has a tendency towards immorality. A_ native is afraid to erect a nnimber of Tints. Therefore, girls, boys, and young children are ailil huddled _a one hut. Consoquetnitily, I am in favour of abolishing the 'hut-tax and retaiaiimg tho poll-tax, which would bring in £250,000 to £300,000 per annum. The mart ivo pays iiii taxes, without the paM-tax, £3 14s ,and I consider he is fairly taxed. The poll-tax has come as a surprise to them, and 1 havo no doubt thero aro grievances amongst them about it. The natives, too, it must- be remembered, supply indirect taxation through the Customs, and there is a very large revenue from their railway traffic. I consider tlinait they contribute two-thirds of the revenue in pa>-._emger traffic, and wo Europeans one-third. Severall Ktatio-tmastera havo told mo that, if it were not for the native traffic the railway ivou'ld nob pay, so that they contribute a fair revenue. I don't for a moment urphoM any action on the part of tho natives in refusing to pay the tax. It is our duty to do whic/ wo can natives, and wo should do everythdntg possible to educate thorn. Look at tho action., for instance, of Christian, inr-tirves offering their services to the Government.'*'

"How do tho chiefs regard education?"

"Tho chiefs, I am sorry to 6ay, are not in favomr of education. It is their policy to induce every native to return to heathenism. They think they lose hold of a maai who bc-oomes a Ourisitian. That is why I am in favour of European adn_.rji_tra.tors. I a-m in favour of the poll-tax. Rhodesia 'has it permanently, and it works well there. It will bring the n.ativc_ under greaiter jsupervisioin. At present the did heads "of a kraail ane .responsible for the hut-tax, an* the young men do not car© whether it is paid or not."]