Press Opinion.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8153, 31 March 1906, Page 5

Press Opinion.

From Different. Points of Yiew.

Received March 31, at 8.40 a.m

LONDON. March 30

The Liberal newspapers plead that the outbreak m Natal originated from protests against the increase of native taxation.

The Daily News says that two of Inspector Hunt's murderers have already been executed under a sort of " Jedwood Justice," administered by militia officers. Now twelve more have been sentenced, and Lord Elgin exercises his power of respite. It is nowise clear that the best way of calming discontent among the blacks will be to fill them with fear.

The Standard declares that a most serious blunder, fraught with the gravest possibilities of the disaster, has been made.

The Daily Telegraph says new fuel has been added to the South African Civ. which is blazing disastrously. The Times says Lord Elgin has precipitated a grave constitutional crisis. It is too late to hope that serious injury has not been inflicted, and it can only be hoped that the result will act as a warning in future dealings with the Transvaal and the Empire. (Received March 31, at 9.6 a.m.) LONDON, March 30.

T'ic Manchester Guardian thoroughly approves of Lord Elgin s actioij. Already, says the journal* two natives have been shot in flagrant defiance of the law and of ordinary decency. The Natal Government aimed not at justice but at striking terror into the natives. CAPETOWN, March 30. The Cape Times says the interference i<s sheer madness It is impossible to exaggerate the gravity of the situation. The Natal Mercury says Lord Elgin's action is & blunder of the grossest magnitude, rendering just and firm government of tlic natives impossible. He must abandon his untenable position or revoke the constitution.

The crime o£ which, the Natal natives have been convicted took place about six weeks ago near Kichraond in the south of Natal. A number of natives having announced their refusal to pay the poll tax of £1 per head on all adults, imposed last August, two, who were armed, were arrested. Forty armed Zulus, however, ambushed a party of police, and the ringleader contemptuously struck Inspector Hunt op, the face with the flat of an assegai. Inspector limit thereupon shot the Zulu dead. A melee ensued, in the course of which tbe inspector and a trooper were killed. J. he rest of the troopers were compelled to retire. One of them rode tor miles with an assegai in -his back.