EMPIRE RACIAL ISSUES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14923, 22 February 1912, Page 7

EMPIRE RACIAL ISSUES.

INDIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA,

DEBATE-IN HOUSE OF LORDS

By Telegraph.— Association.— Copyright a, i . . : . . . London, February 20. In the House of Lords, the UnderSecretary, for the Colonies, Lord Emmott (formerly Mr. Alfred Eramott; Deputy-Speaker of the Commons), replied to a,question by Lord Ampthill regarding the status of Indians in South Africa. Lord Emmot said he believed that the situation * was improving. The Ministers of the South . African Union tried to meet the Government on important points. Lord Selborne (formerly High Commissioner of South Africa) declared that, without under-rating the Indian case, it was necessary to understand the South African view. It was a question of Eastern and Western civilisation. Indian competition was serious, and if not restricted, would cause the European trader to disappear. If English tradesmen were subjected to similar competition English opinion would not remain as impartial as now. It was an unsound argument to say that all kinds of subjects had the same rights in all parts of the Empire, The special interests of each should be the first consideration. South Africans desired to restrict immigration while treating those domiciled in the country fairly.

The Secretary for India, Lord Crewe, said he hoped lie had put the position clearly at the Imperial Conference. He thought Lord Ampthill somewhat pessimistic in thinking that the conversations at the Imperial Conference on the subject had had no result. He testified to the goodwill of Union Ministers, but was afraid that this" goodwill, was not universal in South Africa. There was a good deal of prejudice beyond the trades competition. He deprecated the treatment of educated Indians, and said that the opinion of Indians was growingly against emigration. .-■■■■