SOUTH AFRICA

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1926, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICA

THE ASIATIC PROBLEM. DIFFICULT OF SOLUTION. ARBITRARY ACTION NECESSARY. (By FREDERICK STUBBS, F.R.G.S.) The South African Government’s Indian Bill, introduced in the latter part fo the year 1925, and bitterly resented in India, suggests a brief review of the whole Asiatic pioblem, affecting as it does not only South Africa, but also East Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The magnitude of the problem is shown by the fact that while in Canada there are only 12.000 Asiatics to 9,000,000 Europeans; in Australia, 300,000 Asiatics to 5,800.000 Europeans; in New Zealand 600 Asiatics to 1,400,000 Europeans; in South Africa there are 166,000 Asiatics to 1,500,000 Europeans, with 6,000,000 natives. And what makes the problem more difficult of solution is that of the 162,000 Indiana, 103.000 were born within the Union. The immigration began in 1860 when large numbers of Indians were introduced, chiefly from Madras, in order to work the sugar plantations, and the majority of the present day Indiana are descended from these. As time went on, the white races in South Africa realised how serious a mistake they had made. The Indians that had been introduced with the assistance of the Natal Government, rapidly increased, and those still in India claimed as British subjects the right of entrance. Both gtopraphically and climatically Africa offered a splendid field for Asiatic expansion. The future of South Africa as a whole for the white races was threatened; they would in time be outworked and undersold by the Asiatics, and the struggles and sacrifices and labours of the past century would go for nothing. Then came repressive and exclusive legislation. The reader will recall the fierce struggle between the Government and Mr. Gandhi, who then represented the Indian population. Eventually the Government won, Gandhi was deported, and to-day every Asiatic is a prohibited immigrant. But what of those who had been invited and were brought over? What of those who were South African born ? Here certainly, the Indians had reason on their side. THE PRESENT POSITION.

The present position is that though no more immigrants are admitted the Indians are increasing both in numbers and wealth. Their birth rate is 56 per thousand as against 22 per thousand of Europeans. In Durban (as in the Transvaal also) the Indians own about £1,000,000 worth of ratable property, and out of 270 tailors in the city only 50 are white, while the Indians do nearly half the furniture making and printing. Some Indians employ white women. Large numbers are, of course, coolies, labourers, domestic servants, and to these the European races have no objection. The Indian labourer is an exceedingly useful man in the sugar plantation and in the factories and workshops. He is not as powerfully built as the Bantu, but he is more willing to work. Many Indians, however, are not content to be labourers, they become artisans, storekeepers, clerks, and thus enter into direct competition with the white man, and, owing to their simpler and cheaper mode of living, are able in many cases to drive him out. Several thousands are engaged in the tailoring, furnituremaking and printing trade, and I believe are steady and reliable —but they undersell the white man. In the small towns and suburbs of Natal, the retail grocery and provision trade is almost monopolised by the Indian. He works for. less .money, sells more cheaply, is more willing to meet the - requirements of the natives, has . more patience with them. In these towns a commercial traveller can do ho business "until he has given the Indian an assessed amount towards the upkeep of the Mosque. Hundreds of Indians are also engaged as hawkers and market gardeners. THE POSITION IN NATAL. The province most affected is Natal. Out of the 162,000 Indians in the Union 142.000 live in that State, as against 140.000 Europeans. In Durban alone there are 30,000, and, as I have shown, they are increasing rapidly One cannot be surprised therefore that the people of Natal fear that unless strong measures are adopted to check it, the Indian increase in numbers and wealth, in economic and political influence, will result in conditions that would become intolerable to white men. Asiatics by their greater industry, frugality and lower standard of comfort, would drive white labour off the field.

THE SOLUTION. Is the European type of civilisation to be preserved, and how? Various measures are being urged. One is that a minimum wage" should be enacted, it being believed that wages being equal the employer would choose the wliite man. But this would only affect the labouring and artisan classes. Others suggest that the Indian should be confined to certain areas, or be compelled to adopt European standards of living; that he should be confined to unskilled labour; that Europeans should refuse to deal at Indian stores; that traders’ licenses should be withheld, etc. All these measures have been advocated; some of them it is obvious would be impossible of enforcement. Those that are possible, it seems to me as a sympathetic observer, are the follow-

mg: 1. Except in certain restricted areas, the Asiatic might he prevented from acquiring real property. 2. While you cannot compel the Asiatic to dress and feed as an Englishman does, it would be possible to enforce certain sanitary rules, minimum space, etc. 3. If restricted to manual labour, there is no doubt that the most objectionable class of Indians, the storekeepers and money-lenders, would voluntarily leave the country. 4. Those convicted in the Courts for serious offences might be deported. Tho Government already gives a free passage and £lO per head to those who agree to repatriate themselves, but this measure is both costly and ineffective. If in addition to the repatriation bonus sued) measures as above were adopted, it seems to me tho Asiatic problem might bo solved without any great hardship to the Asiatic. The poorer men, the eoolies, would remain; the wealthier classes would return to India.