SOUTH AFRICAN NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6382, 3 December 1907, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICAN NOTES.

ISIMIGS IN THE TRANSVAAL

PROBLEMS AWAITING SETTLE-

MENT. RESTRICTIONS ON TRADING. (From Our Own CoiTospoiulfciit.) J O HAXXI)SIJi;KO, Octeljcr 31. Omt of Oh,' lust moiisurw of tho Crown Lolouv Oovormnont was lo wuwtt au oriinanco niovkJijtk r for tho registration of tho At-lalics within tho Transvaal and \ imTlio.l of iflonfciiication hy iniprossioiis of thi* hands. Thin ordinanco was not Asscnlwl to hy tho Imperial Government, owing chiefly to nepmsontationß jikklo hy Asiatic® and principally by British Indians. A similar measure was recnaefod at iho first session of tho now I’arlianiont, being put through both tlonso*,- without a Du-sentient voico. This wafl assented to iu due course, and the Government arc now ondcavouring to enforce its provisions. So far they have /not with but very little success. Tho fffiinwe and the Hindus arc determinedly opposed to it, each having associations for using every effort to persuade their follow-couiitrynioji not to register, and lu-j <i consequence the law is being set at defiance. Tim regifttration officers have been wut to various purls of tho Transvaal, of which due notice was given, ami very fow have availed themselves of their fiorviecs. They are now in .iohaniueburg, and meeting with still less success. The a>eociafions concerned have used *vory possi Ide endeavour to get what they consider the obnoxious features of tjie enactment expunged. They have made representations to the Government, lo the Governor, to (he Secretary of State for the Colonics, and to tho Indian Office, but all without, avail, and now they are carrying out a policy of pnKsiye resistance. It is asserted ‘that jlie Chinese fool ho strongly on the subject that they have* ordered upon a solemn obligation that they will perform the “happy despatch" rather than obey the mandates of the law. The Brithui Indians say they are prepar'd to leave every slick they po;se(SS in tho colony find go, or, ns an alternative, bo sent to gaol, and it seems as if before the end of ilm year the Government will he forced to do something. They must 'til her CARRY OUT TIIK LAW. or they must hack down. In the Transvaal no person can carry on any business without a license, and Asiatics who are not registered will be unablo to obtain licenses. This would shut out a very substantial percentage of thetraders in tho country. As a further step, th : Government could deport them, or they could ho sent to prison for contempt of Court, tho tonus of tho Act being mandatory. Tho Colonial Secretary, Mr 'Smuts, on whom devolves tho special duty of seeing that this cmnclnn Jifc is carried out, lias,so far, given no intimation of any weakening towards the Asi itic«. ilo Ls most emphatic in his declarations, ami professes to have .studied tho question from tho Asiatic point of view, a statement which tho British Indian Association takes exception to. A considerable proportion of these Indians aro Mohammedans, and they contend that the provisions necessary to cuublo them to obtain registration aro contrary to tho injunctions of their religion, and consequently to perform them would bo au impious act. Naturally enough they have been interviewed by newspaper people and others ns to their intentions, and they assert that they will return to India ami carry on Iho agitation there, or go to some other country where British freedom exists in fact as well as in name. The Uhumso are all prepared to go to ITowrry Land, or anywhere, rather than ngroe to tho digit impressions. I might remark, by tho way, that if all fcheso people do go, or aro deported, there will be a gre »t rejoicing amongst a largo flection of the white traders, but their relief will not: bo so groat as might bo supposed, because wo have such a largo percentage of Russian .lows and people from tho Mediterranean coasts who are white only in name, but claim all the privilege® of being white people, whilst there is practically no difference between I hem and the Indians or tho Chinese, /•socially with regard to what the British traders look upon as unfair competition iu business. Tho only difference, so tar re wo can see, is that in course of time they do become absorbed in tho country; and as they improve their positions they gradually become a portion j)f the social fabric instead of tho fringe, so that with them it will be possible to do something, whereas tho Asiatics are likely ever to be a distinct people in themselves. THE COLOUR QUESTION. I have, perhaps, in my letters given an exceptional prominence to this case nf the coloured in South Africa, but to my mind it overshadows everything else. Wo aro now trying tho experiment of white labour, and it is not working well because wo have not a class of unskilled white labourers here, excepting in a relatively small degree amongst the poorer Butch, and unless we do have a white working population it will never bo a white man's country. As conveying to your readers eomo idea of tho moral condition of one class of our community, I may refer to the cab-drivers. It was represented to one of the administrative committees of the Johannesburg Municipal Council that coloured persons . fc h-/ j uld not-bo licensed to drive first-class cabs, and tho committee requested tho Inspector of Vehicles to submit a statement showing tho nationality of those licensed as well os tli© conviction® for breaches of tho by-laws or for every offence recorded against them. The return shows that there were 203 Russian Jews, 50 per cent, of them have been convicted of offence®: British, 167, with 31 nor cent, of convictions; ISO Dutch, with 11 per cent.; 102 coloured persons, with 13 per cent.; and 15 other European's, with 12 per cent. In this list “coloured persons’" means what we know as Capo coloured person®, that is, natives of South Africa, with an adxturo of white blood in varying de- • -cs, or Malays. Prom this it . .11 bo seen that tho natives of tho tho country, whether Dutch or coloured aro more honest and donpondablo, and commit less breaches of tho law than tho British, whilst Russian Jews aro placed in tho unenviable position which indicates to some extent why the race generally is hold iu snob low repute. The special committee of the Council to which I referred wero asked to refuse to license coloured persons, in order that more room should bo found for whites, but it is quite obvious that they must not look at tho colour of tho skin only, but to tho steadiness, reliability mid honesty of the drivers, and in all these rospocta thoy are, as a class, very greatly superior to the British, while tho Russian Jews have by far tho smallest claim to our esteem. It is a small matter in itself, but it is an indication of tho difficulty wo all experience m our endeavour® to make this a white man's country, when wo find that in doing so wo would bo constantly committing au injustice on thoso who aro worthy of appreciation, a.nd we are favouring those who are most entitled to our condemnation. RHODESIA.

A special committee of the directors of the Chartered-. Company has been tourin'? Rhodesia for some weeks, learning on the spot the main objections to tho continuance of the Chartered Company’s rule iu its present features. They are having meetings with tho settlers and discussing tho situation with them. It is sufiiciertUy obvious to anyone acquainted with this largo territory that

it can never prosper or carry a considerable white population until the Chnrlo»*ed Company's rule is aboltdmd or mado conformable to the requirements of the country. The company claims that the whole of Rhodesia belonged to it by reawm of the conorasion obtained from Lobenguela, which was recognised by the Imperial Government, and that it is on til led to sovereign rights for all minerals, as the Crown would be in other British posses*nom.. In pursuant*) of this power it framed regulations by virtue of which it claimed HO per cent, ol tho vendors' and promoters' interests in all mining notation*} above a certain sum. The vendors and promoters, in order to got what they consider a duo proportion of profits' out of the venture, watered the stock to an ouermou* extent, and thus one of tho worst features of over-capi-talisation was introduced. As a consequence the big mining ventures which wore promoted so mo time prior to the war, ami in which a largo amount of British caph-al was sunk, proved failures. In mining, Rhodesia is essentially a poor man's country; two or three men having a practical knowledge, with a iivo or ton-stump battery, and employing Kaffirs to do tho rough work, have douo very well indeed; some have made small fortunes, and many aro still doing well, but it is no place for the big company promoter, hence tho failure after failure of big companies caused a slump in Rhodesian properties generally, and the small population which it then contained was ’considerably diminished. The Rhodesians who have interviewed the company's directors have suggested that the 30 per cent, interest should bo abandoned for a small percentage of tho profits or on tho output. Thoy also very strongly objected to certain revenues, which should bo devoted to the administration of tho country, being absorbed iu tho revenues of the company, and there watf A FURTHER OBJECTION

to the claim that tho unsold lands* should bo regarded an the property of thb company uiul not of the people generally. Tho conferences arc still going on, and tho company will not bo likely to do anythin# until this committee of directors have reported to their colleagues in London. Representationshave boon made to tho Imperial Government by tho settlors, bat these have nob boon productvo of any result, Tho only prac-j tical solution is to buy tho company out, but an expenditure of some millions tor this purpose—the amount has been estimated at live millione-would bo a very serious responsibility for a small population consisting of between twelve and Itourloeu thousand people. Were tho company sot rid of, and tho country permitted to work out its own destiny, Rhodesia would very soon enjoy a very greatly increased population. Its agricultural resources me very great, whilst its mineral wealth is enormous. It possesses most of the better-known nictate, hut in gold tho results proved so far have been, as; I have stated, that it is better suited for the employment of small companion or small parties of j practical men. It is rexiortod that a banket formation, similar to that on the Rand, and giving a very much better yield with a large ore body, has been discovered, and Mr Abe Bailey, one of our leading mining financiers, te interesting himself in this matter. The reports of a large banket formation in Rhodesia have bsen industriously circulated at times during tho last three or four years, and as nothing has been done with them, people are apt to become sceptical, but that payable gold exists in many localities is an undoubted fact. During tho latter end of the war, and immediately afterwards, there was a gradually increasing interest in Rhodesian mining displayed by practical men, who first devoted themselves to tho old workings, taking up the ground on tribute from the ' big companies, which had ceased operations owing to insufficient working capital. The various dumps also attracted attention, and these were worked and then new ground was broken. Amongst several of the old workings tho miners mot with evidences of the very ancient gold mining, far beyond tho knowledge of any of the Kaffir races now living in South Africa. I have seen a necklace made of solid gold beads, joined together in little links, which was found with a * number of other trinkets in one of the old abandoned excavations. This may have dated bade to tho time of King Solomon, if, as some suppose, Rhodesia was the ancient Ophir, In most case,? the miners who find things of this sort do not disclose the fact, as I understand the Chartered Company makes some claim on .them, and this in itself constitutes one further grievance against tho company. In tho course of time wo may expect to find Rhodesia one of tho richest of the South African States, but it is quite obvious that before this result is obtained chartered rule must bo got rid of for ever. SWAZILAND. It has been a grievance amongst tho older residents of tho Transvaal, and aspecially the Dutch population, that jurisdiction over Swaziland, formerly possessed by this country, has been taken over by the Colonial Office, and that Swaziland should be administered direct by tho High Commissioner. It is said that General Botha when in London endeavoured to get the Colonial Office to alter the , Swaziland protectorate in favour of the Transvaal, but ho was quite unsuccessful. Swaziland had the proud distinction of being ahead of every country iii the world in the number and variety of its concessions. These were given over land, over minerals, over forests and over rivers; there were concessions to run railways or tramways, to generate power by electricity or gas, and to embark in industries of almost every description. The only things the concessionaires did not attempt to corner were the sunlight and tho rains. other means of supporting > a population or of carrying on industries was conceded to some person or some corporation. In tho old prewar days, after Swaziland was handed over to tho South African Republic, a concession was not a difficult thing to obtain. It was first of all necessary to influence tho King by means of some of his Councillors or those who gained access to his person. The intermediary was bribed, and presents were also made to the potentate. These concessions had to ratified by tho Transvaal Government. If the person who had obtained tho concession was influential ho might approach a member of tho Cabinet, or, perhaps, an influential member of the First Rand, many of whom were .accessible in some form or another. If this failed, he could utilise the services of a member of tho “Third Rand,” This assemblage, I might explain, was not a body recognised by the laws of the country, nor were its members elected by the people, but they were influential, nevertheless, and their members generally succeeded in getting a political request acceded to by the Government—for a consideration. When once the concession was granted, it could lie dormant or bo utilised according to the will of the concessionaire. I knew* a man who bad the concession for electric lighting and power. So long as that concession subsisted no one in Swaziland could produce electricity for power or lighting unless with his sanction and the payment of a gratuity. Unfortunately for his plane, nothing was done in this direction before tho war. Finally, electricity was responsible for his death, for ho fell off an electric tramcar and was killed in Capetown whilst awaiting permission to return to the Transvaal. lie showed mo his concession, one of tho most widely-embracing documents I have seen, but its commercial value bad been considerably minimised by the fear that tho British Government would not, when tho war was over, recognise many of these concessions. After tho war n commission was appointed to examine these claims and concessions, and a considerable number of them were cancelled, especially those relating to industries such as our friend’s electric lighting. It was held that as these people

HAD DONE XOTHIXG to make their concretions of benefit to tho country it was inadvisable to

tin no them any longer. A number of other concessions were not into lercc with, pending iK© final scttlenunt o\ tho Siva/. Hand administratien, _ and lor the last three or four years things have been in a verv unsettled condition in that country. 'Quite recently the High Commitoidontr issued a proclamation beetling the basis on whicu affairs with regard to concessions wiu in future be direGtod. Territorial concessionaires have to abandon one-third of their a-ica, and m some esses a still greater area mud be given up. .Mineral concessions will not bo interfered with, but will bo (subject to mieh regulations as may he imposed from lime to time, industrial concessions are abolished ami Industrie-* emir/t be carried on unless with the consent of the High Commissioner. This proclamation ha® given general satidactiou in Swaziland because they who feared that everything would bo taken away are glad to find something still left to them, and a certain title for a .small area of ground is better than a visionary one to a much larger area. It is made very clear by tho High Commissioner that the country will bo kept as far as possible a clo-o preserve for tho native population quite a® much so in fact as is Basutoland. It is this that evokes antagonism amongst the Tranevaalers. Those of tho older’ population ivlio ha\e something of a con tin nous political programme always looked upon Swaziland as their natural outlet to tho sea; the old South African had contemplated taking potyse.sci-on of the country and acquiring a port. In this they were defeated by tho British Government proclaiming Gazaland British territory ■ and so preventing the rransvaal from utilising Santa Lucia Bay. Still it was hoped that by some means or other they would get direct access to the seaboard, and now they aro cut oil by this Swaziland protectorate. Amongst tho while people hero ns elsewhere in South Africa there ie a feeling of irritation with regard to Downing street reserving to itself the right of sole administration over any portion of South Africa. It ie contended that the neighbouring States could quite as easily administer the native territories on their borders as Natal deals with Zululand and Capa Colony with Kaffraria. I presume in course of time Swaziland will be incorporated in the Transvaal, but in the meantime tho Colonial Office have control.

Johannesburg, October 21st, 1007,