INDIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13647, 15 January 1908, Page 8

INDIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AN APPROACHING CRISIS. THE SITUATION EXPLAINED. The cables lately have informed us of the trouble arising from the presence of Indians in the Transvaal, and especially in Pretoria. A gentleman, who for many years resided in the Transvaal and Natal, and who was associated with the Indiana there owing to his occupying an official position, gave a Hkrald reporter some interesting information on the subject yesterday. The trouble, he declared, was much more serious than persons who had not the local knowledge would imagine from the cables. Mr. Gandhi, a native barrister, who had been sentenced to imprisonment for having defied the law, was a graduate of an English university, and a very cultured man. About 12 years ago Mr. Gandhi was induced to go from India to Natal to look after the interests of Indians in that colony, at the retaining fee of £400 per annum. At, that time his duties lay chiefly in Natal, where there were thousands of Indians, while there were very few in the Transvaal. During the Boer war a great number of Indians were induced to enter the Transvaal by the military authorities, and especially by the officers connected with the remount department, as many of the Indians were trained cavalrymen. Others were engaged in connection with the ambulance corps and as water-carriers.

Papers were shown the reporter instructing the official interviewed to proceed from .Johannesburg to Durban (Natal) towards : the end of the wav, and there engage. 10 ! cooks. and 10 waiters for the Transvaal. These men, all Indians, were occupied in attending to the wants of those taking part in the famous -Vereeniging Conference, when the. details of peace were discussed. The Indians had not much desire to leave Natal; in fact, the official had some difficulty in securing them, but on being given a guarantee that thev would be free to remain after a months work, the time the conference was expected to lust, they agreed to go. Since them permission had been given the Indians to remain in the Transvaal, on the same footing us other people, but. the present proceedings appeared to be directly at variance with this permission. " I think the attitude taken up by the Transvaal Government is iniquitous," the official continued. "At the present moment there is much talk about amalgamating the whole of the British colonies in South Africa, and forming a federation. This action of the Transvaal Government will greatly impede the movement, and raise a very serious position in South Africa. The Transvaal Government may succeed in enforcing this law; but seeing that the Indians in Natal have got such a firm footing, and they own such a large amount of very valuable property, in the principal streets of Durban especially, I fail to see how the two factions can be reconciled. Most of the Indians in Natal are naturalised, and when the federation scheme comes; to be more seriously placed before the people, there will be sure to Ik; strong opposition in Natal. . The strength of the Indians in Natal can be gauged from the fact that they are engaged in almost all industries, while some of the largest firing in Durban are controlled by them, some on the spot, and others from Bombay." Apart from any local considerations, he added*! the Imperial aspect had to be considered, and looked at broadly, the limitations to the present trouble could not be seen. The power of Gandhi among the Indians in the Transvaal and Natal was very great; in fact, lie was looked upon as their leader. Even if he were deported from the Transvaal over the border into Natal, there was no telling what action he might inspire among the Indians in the Transvaal, and also Natal. The majority would be sure to follow his lead, andj judging from the experiences of the past, the position was a very precarious one. Then, j if Gandhi 'choose to go to India, what antagonism could he not raise ' there against the shutting out of the Indians from British colonies? If such a, campaign were started in India and South Africa—and it was not at ail improbableanyone with the least acquaintance of Indian affairs could see to what proportions the present apparently insignificant trouble might develop. If. such a law as was in existence in the Transvaal wore passed in Natal, there would "be a great " flare," because it would be trespassing on the rights of naturalised and established Indians.

"The li&t word has not been written or spoken on this subject; it is only the beginning, avid I think they will" have to climb down. As long as we have control of India, we ought to give these people a certain amount of license. If we cannot, then wo should throw up India. At any rate, with the spread of education in India, and among the Indians in the colonies, they will assert their rights. Time alone can tell what will happen."