THE WHITE MAN'S PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18320, 9 February 1923, Page 6

THE WHITE MAN'S PROBLEM.

Observations upon the racial question in South Africa, by a scientist recently from that country, should serve as a reminder that in many parts of the Empire much more than an academic or theoretical interest attaches to the colour problem. The African native is physically vigorous and prolific, many of the races being more prolific than the European settlers. As the native grows more to realise his numerical strength, he will be less likely to remain content with a status lower than that of his white fellowcountrymen. He is, as Dr. Denham shows, already knocking at the door which leads to equality. The problem presented is a very difficult one, hedged about by prejudice, and rendered thorny by convention. Conventions cannot endure for ever, and prejudices will 'not bring a solution. Courage, vision, and fairmindedness will have to be brought to bear upon the issue if serious complications are to be avoided. The rising tide of consciousness among the coloured people cannot be ignored indefinitely. Many of their standards of life do not equal those which exist, the dear-won prize of centuries, among Europeans. The only tolerable adjustment will be a complete levelling up, without compromise by way of levelling - down. Interests vital to the safety of the British Empire are involved, so that no portion of the Empire can be indifferent to the existence of the problem. At the present stage New Zealand can only watch and wait, meanwhile remembering to be profoundly thankful that the nonEuropean population of these islands lives alongside the European without the need for a colour bar, or the existence of a colour problem such as that facing other parts of the Empire.