BLACK AND WHITE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 8

BLACK AND WHITE.

SOUTH AFRICAN PROBLEM. RACE RELATIONSHIPS. [from our own correspondent.] CAPETOWN, March 23 A strong protest against the Native Service Contract Bill, which is now before Parliament, is made by the Bishop of Pretoria, Dr. Nevill Talbot. The bill, in the bishop's judgment, stands condemned for three principal reasons. The whole principle of consultation, pledged to the native people by the Native Affairs Act of 1920, and reaffirmed in General Hertzog's Union Native Council Bill of 1927, has been violated. Then they had to bear in mind that the practical effect of the bill would be that once it was pot into operation in any given district, the whole squatting population of that district would be suddenly subject to eviction from their homes and would be condemned to wander about looking for shelter and subsistence until many of them drifted into the towns. "This only alternative open to them," says Bishop Talbot, "will be to remain where they are under conditions perilously near forced labour. They and their children will be prevented more effectively than ever before from escaping unsatisfactory conditions of service and will be remunerated at a wage which, in these circumstances, is likely to be lower than even the present low standard." Thirdly, the bill represented unfulfilled promises. Ever since 1913 the native people had been waiting for the redemption of the promise of the grant of more land made to them- in the Natives Land Act of that year. "I claim that to impose more restrictions on natives living in European areas until the promise of 1913 has been honoured," said Bishop Talbot, "is a flagrant breach of faith on the part of white South Africa. It is calculated to damage the white man's prestige and to render co-operation between the races so much more difficult. Once more, therefore, a deep issue is brought to the front. It underlies the whole question of race relationships in South Africa,. "The issue is whether the house of South Africa's civilisation shall be built in the supposed interests of Europeans on the foundation of the oppression and compulsion of the native people or, on the other hand, whether it shall be built on the foundation of free co-operation by white and black for the good of the whole community. This issue is of worldwide importance and bound up with it is the reputation of our country in the eyes of tha world."