BLACK V. WHITE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 July 1925, Page 5

BLACK V. WHITE

RACIAL CLASH THREATENING. SOUTH AFRICA’S PROBLEM. NO PRACTICAL REMEDY FOUND. BY GABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT (Received July 11, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. Mr Ward Price, writing in the Daily Mail, says-: “The threatening racial ' clash between black and white in 'South Africa is becoming an outstanding problem. Politicians frame legislative breakwaters against the spreading sea of colour, but nevertheless they know they are only weak expedients. There is no practical remedy for the impending conflict, which is being caused by the rise of racial unity among the blacks, whose tribal .jealousies are disappearing, and whose languages are fusing. There are eight million natives throughout South Africa, as compared with 1,500,000 whites. The blacks are multiplying far more rapidly than their white masters, who base their economic development on cheap labour. The blacks are developing a. contentious spirit of colour consciousness under the lead of Ameri- ' can educated natives, who brag that their, function is to lead the primitive tribes in a racial struggle. Such conditions may end in rebellion; meaning first the massacre of scattered whites, then the massacre of half-armed natives.

“When the Prince of Wales reviewed 4000 natives in traditional fighting kit' and feathers, armed with assegais and knoblcerries, singing a war chant punctuated with the stabbing of imaginary foes, a South Africa officer told me that every song was a veiled threat. Meanwhile pretty bare-armed European girls photographed the warriors as if they were a Wembley side-show. “The police have discovered the existence of a bloodthirsty e secret society named Omalita, the members swearing to ravish a virgin and murder a man before they die-.’’ —Sydney Sun Cables.