WARNING TO NATIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19486, 16 November 1926, Page 16

WARNING TO NATIVES.

UNREST IN SOUTH AFRICA. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ADVICE." TOO LEGAL ACTIONS. [FROM our own correspondent.] CAPETOWN. Oct. 1. For some time there has been an undercurrent of unrest among the natives in South Africa, The proposed the Colour Bar Bill, which restricts the industrial activity of the natives, and the suggestion that native territories hitherto controlled by the Imperial Government should be handed over to the Union Government, have all bad <iew native policy of the Government, their effect on the native mind. This unrest was the subject of a serious warning this week by the Governor-General, the Earl of Athlone, who addressed a large native gathering in the territory of Swaziland. He spoke very plainly to the Swazis and their chief Sobhuza, who gathered in the native capital of Mbabane. "It is with displeasure," said the Earl of Athlone, "that I have heard you say the Swazi nation is disaffected. Your grievances have been patiently considered and decided, and it is necessary for you to understand you are all under the King, and I will not hear any talk of dissaffection either from the pars-* mount chief or any other persons. I want you to settle down contentedly and peacefully, it is the duty of the chiefs to endeavour to keep their people satisfied and to cease disturbing them with law cases. 1 trust 1 shall not hear of any further legal actions against the Government, which produce no results except to disturb peace and involve the nation in debt. A continuance of the unrest of the past few years may compel me to consider whether the head of the nation is deserving of my confidence." A Picturesque Group. Referring to the land case recently decided by the Privy Council against Sobhuza, the Earl of Athlone said they must clearly understand the question had been settled once and for all. "1 do not wish to hear of it again," he declared. The formal- interview between the Earl of Athlone and Sobhuza, which preceded this pronouncement, took place on the pleasant lawns in the centre of the native capital. The Governor-General was accommodated in a small marquee and Sobhuza, the queen mothe«\ the paramount chief's counsellors and a number of chiefs faced him under a similar marquee erected on lower terraces. Swazi braves and other members of the tribe were seated on the lawns or standing outside in the road. The only time they broke silence was to give a thunderous "bayete" when the Earl of Athlone arrived and again when he came down to meet the queen mother and Sobhuza's party. In his address, which he read personally, the paramount chief asked for redress for certain grievances regarding some proclamations issued by the Swaziland Administration, "whereby the nation had been affected in its vital rights." The grievances cited related to unallotted land concessions, the ejectment of Swazis from farms 'in Swaziland, and alleged dis- i regard of native laws and customs. "'The j Swazi nation is most disaffected," the address asserted, "and it is determined to seek redress fcy any constitutional means." Town' Carnival Appearance. Mbabane had a carnival appearance. The trees lining the road approaching the centre of the town were festooned with flags, and Government Square, where an address from the Europeans was presented, was spanned by lengths of bunting.' Half an hour before the formalities were due to begin, Sobhuza's followers arrived. There must have been fully 1000 in the contingent, which has been gathering for the past few day? in a kraal a mile and a-half frftjn Mbabane. The tribesmen marched about. 10 abreast into the town. The vanguard consisted of Sobhuza's bodyguard, wearing picturesque primitive attire, and the remainder of the procession was made up of headmen v and followers. All carried terries. They plodded along rather than marched to a rhythmic melody which they crooned, more or lesS in unison, while one of trie semi-naked warriors leading the procession occasionally blared out a whimsical bugle call.