A NEW ZEALAND POLITICIAN IN SOUTH AFRICA

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12482, 19 April 1906, Page 10

A NEW ZEALAND POLITICIAN IN SOUTH AFRICA

MR FOWLDS'S LMPHIuSSIONS. (FROM OOR OWN* COEKKSPOXDEST.) LONDON, March 17

■I had a very good time in South Africa." remarked .Mr George Fowlds, M.H.R., when ho called upon ni-e yesterday. "Everybody was most kind and 'hospitable, particularly those iv official circles. All wero extremely kind, and afforded every passible facility for travelling about the country and investigating its condition. 1 was grunted free passes over all the railways, and made good use of them." "1 presume that while you wero on the spot yon took tlio opportunity ot looking into the Chinese question, about which we have been hearing to much in l.n gland of late?" "Certainly 1 did," replied Mr Fowlds. "I investigated ab carefully as possible the condition of the Chinese labourers; every opportunity was given mc of doing t>o, and I looked into the matter as thoroughly as 1 could." "And what conclusion did you arrive at ?" "Nothing shook ray original opinion, answered Air Fowlds, 'that a largo mistake was committed in importing Chinese at all. On that point 1 remained as firmly convinced as ever. But 1 could find no grounds at all for tlio representations that have been so freely indulged in that the Chinese labourers are in any re&pect ill-treated. On the contrary, I should say emphatically that the general condition and treatment of the Chinese coolies is such as in their own country they never dreamed of 'the possibility of enjoying. Most assuredly, in China, they could never, in' their wildest dreams, have conceived the possibility of their being led and lodged in the way they are in Wouth Africa. All tho talk about their Buffering ill-usage may be dismissed as mere invention."

'It is contended, is it not, that mest of tho low-grade-ore mines cannot be worked, except at a loss, with white labour?"

"That is alleged, no doubt," replied Mr Fowlds, "but I imagine it is more _ question of being larger or smaller profits. As for the assertion that climatic conditions are unfavourable to white labour, or, indoed, practically preclude, its employment, I am .satisfied there i\s nothing in that. Manifestly, the importation of Chineec- labour h.as greatly helped the mining industry, and particularly the mine-ownere. But tho serious public question is whether the many social disadvantages attaching to this course do not greatly

it ; s few advantages. For om> thin?, it necessarily t-t'iidr-; to entho nigo f-tir excf-sivoly chctip labour. For instance. I saw cooli-.' wontoii working «t ttvoponce per Cay unilor a Kaffir ovrrsoor. The plv'iin f.:ict i«. tli«t in South Africa every white man regards physical labour a - t-ouletliinti; quite bens-atli his own dignity, and only to be ]>erformed by tho I coloured races. The mine-owners, on I tlie other hand, declare that even of ' coloured labour they cannot get iieatly 1 Mifficient for their urgent reqnire- . merits. And from their point of view i thero is possibly something to be enid on this score, but the objections to the importation of Chinese coolies ore far tco great to bo taken into -account in the interests of -particular firms or individuals." | The nervous strain of household care tveaits out even tho strongest women. Take Steams' "Wine, tlio peerless tonic, which builds up the body and makes tho weak strong. Pleasant to the taste. 3