South African Plans For Indian Reserves

Press, Volume C, Issue 29602, 26 August 1961, Page 11

South African Plans For Indian Reserves

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) DURBAN, August 25. The South African Prime Minister (Dr. Verwoerd) said yesterday that the Government would never be prepared to accept Indians within the framework of the Republic.

Addressing tihe Natal Congress of the National Party at Erzheid, h-e said the Indians would have to develop as an independent ethnic group in their own areas, which would be on similar lines teethe “homelands” for Africans and coloured, “The Times.” London, reported. The Indians, Dr. Verwoerd said, had been imported into South Africa for selfish “economic interests.” "Great Problem”

The Nationalist Government of Dr. Malan had attempted to solve the problem by offering to repatriate the Indians to India and Pakistan, but those countries had so little to offer that they had refused to go, Dr Verwoerd said.

Unsuccessful attempts had also been made to send them to other countries, so they had remained, to present a great problem. They would not be ac-

cepted in a South African multi-racial society. Dr. Verwoerd said, and would not be given representation in the local or national government in white areas. Dr. Verwoerd said that in their own areas, they would have their own municipalities and provincial government and would be granted opportunities to develop full independence. “The Times” stated there were nearly 500.000 Indians in South Africa, of whom nearly 400,000 were in Natal.

There was a sharp reaction later to Dr. Verwoerd’s statement from the president of the Natal Indian Organisation, Mr P. R. Pather. " Mr Pather said the Indians

“would not countenance” any move 4 het would detach them from the general population of the country. In spite of what the Prime Minister had said, Mr Pather continued, the Indian would continue to regard himself as a fully-fledged South African, who owed allegiance to no other country.

Typhoon Warning (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) NEW YORK, Aug. 25. United States military authorities today issued typhoon warnings to American personnel and their families at the Taiwan Air Base in central ‘Formosa. Typhoon “Lorna.” with 130 mile an hour centre winds, was last reported 200 miles south-east of Formosa, moving toward the island at 12 miles an hour. United Press International reported in New York.