Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1902. THE SETTLEMENT OF SOUTH AFRCA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12047, 29 January 1902, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1902. THE SETTLEMENT OF SOUTH AFRCA.

The cable news has informed us on several occasions recently that the British Government has been pur chasing large tracts of land in the new houth African colonies for purposes of settlement. This is a matter of the very first importance, and it is one which cannot he without intereat to us in a colony which has obtained throughout the Empire the reputation of enjoying a very advanced and liberal system for the settlement of the land It is obvious that when the war is over our work in South Africa will still be far from complete. We shall have a large population spread all over tho bulk of the country who cannot be trusted, for some time to come at all events, to entertain any very friendly feeling to the British. When the burghers and landowners begin to return to their farms they will require to be carefully watched, or we shall have continual outbreaks of rebellion and a constant condition of anxiety and unrest. There are, of course, only two ways of effecting the desired end. The disaffected districts must he garrisoned either by regular troops or by permanent soldier settlers.

I It goes without saying that for some time to come it will be impossible to do without a certain, and perhaps a considerable force, of regular soldiers at the Cape. It is, perhaps, desirable for many reasons quite apart from the interests of South Africa, that this should be so. Admiral Colomb not long ago wrote a very interesting letter to the Times, in which he suggested that the Cape should be made a regular station of one or more army corps. He pointed out that the healthy climate and the comparatively cheaper cost of living, were considerable arguments in favor of removing a large force of our regular army to the Cape, Still more important, however, were the facilities which are there available for manoeuvres on an extended scale. Every army critic has complained that the condition of things in England makes the conduct of military manreuvres little short of a farce. The great extent of country and the small population of Cape Colony and tiie new colonies would, however, permit the largest movements to be tried with the greatest ease. Further, there is the important consideration that in the event of a war with a European Power in the East it would be an immense advantage to have a large body of troops so near to the scene of hostilities This is an argument of great weight, for i« is generally recognised that any tyoubje in which we are likely to be

involved will probably ii-ioi- in tli.: East. ' JJuf: apart from those Imperial J considerations which may uako the 1 presence of a regular fora at the Cape almost n necessity, it ipppars to be generally recognised tiat the peaceful settlement of the com acred tcnilo.ics will ho best attaiied bv to adoption of some cyston by which soldiers shall bo placed tty.n tho land l'i-ior to the wur althuigh tlio i'ngtisii inspiration of ii:e J'raisvaal was very Ur-c it was roniiotd to the big towns he loiH; of if«. rural districts, and particularly oil the outlying districts, were, occupied j almost < ntircly by Boers, and. indeed| the farther back you went the more ignorant and big -.tied was the population in order to raise the level of civilisation am ngst Unpeople, ia order to familiarise them with British methods, and to break down tho barrier between Briton and Boor, it ia in the first degree desirable that an Anglo-Saxon leaven should be introduced throughout tho country population. How that ia to be done is perhaps the chief problem which the future presents for solution.

It scorns probable that when hostilities are over the British authorities will find themselves in possession of considerable areas of land, ft has been suggested that the large possessions of Mr Kruger and the other gentlemen responsible for the insensate prolongation of the war should be confiscated, and we suppose that it is probable that some steps of the kind will be taken Other properties will no doubt be

abandoned, and many will be ownerless. In other cases residents may be willing to part with the r land to the authorities at fair prices. Wo certainly think the provisional Government should assume a preemptive right, for a time at all events, so that the proper settlement of the country may be effected. When it is considered that many of the farms are mortgaged, and that there are sure to be a great number of purchasers as soon as things resume their normal course, it is highly probable that tho Imperial authorities will have no lack of land upon which to try any experiment which may commend itself to them. After tho land the next thing is

to get the men. There would hardly appear to be any difficulty about that. Among the hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers already in South Africa there mus be thousands who, if they were offered good terms, would bo eager and willing to settle down We are satisfied that among the colonial contingents alone sufficient men would be found for the purpose, al though it would be heresy to flay so. It seems to be supposed that the sending away of a thousand or so young men from this colony for example would have miaous effect on us. Al r o do not share tula view Wo believe that there are numbers of young weu engaged on the runs of this colony who have very small prospect of bettering their position. If these men have the chance of settling in -outh Africa under favorable conditions it appears to us that it would be the extreme of harshness to prevent them They would be invaluable to the now colonics, and their places here would soou ho filled by the rising generation. The Specla!or recently urged that grants of good land should be given to approved settlers, and that money should be advanced to them at reasonable rates to stock and improve their farms. Irrigation works have already been taken in baud. Further, the settler at the end of the war should get free a horse and rifle, a waggon of some sort, and a team of mules or oxeu, with a share of the huts, tents, and general stores, and a certain weekly wage as a reservist in case of disturbance. A colouiat so placed would certainly be in a very enviable position.

This reminds us of the repeated rumor that Mr Seddou was to ho asked to administer the new territories. As a matter of fact his experience in this colony would be of little avail in the new colonies. What ia wanted there is not the small settler, it will be a long time before the country is ready for him. All that is necessary is to plant groups of military settlers all over the country, so as to ensure a sufficient force in al! parts of tho territory to hold their own against any possible Boer rising. The conditions of

fanning in those countries are quite different from ours. At the same

time the Government would probably be well advised to retain the freehold of these farms A system of leasehold would meet the require-

ments, and would enable them to prepare for closer settlement when occasion arose.