SOUTH AFRICA’S BLACK PROBLEM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7355, 6 February 1911, Page 1

SOUTH AFRICA’S BLACK PROBLEM

DUTIES OF THE WHITE RACE OPINIONS OP THE HON. G. POWLDS In the course of his address at the Men's Brotherhood yesterday afternoon, tho Hon. G. Fowlds referred to the colour problem in South Africa. “The groat danger to South Africa," said Air Fowlds, “ lies in the large coloured population. Tho whole tone and temper of the people towards the blacks is not one that I could synchronise with ideas of Christianity." Continuing; AH* Powlds said that .even church ministers would be found giving expression to views against tine blacks. Something should bo done to elevate and gradually civilise the black people. Ho had no hesitation in saying that if tho white people had no mission to elevate the „ black people, then it was very doubtful if their presence in South Africa was justified. Inirther, he ■would say that in the long run the best interests of the white settlement; of South Africa would be promoted by the gradual elevation and civilisation of the black people. However, there were people who were trying to eradicate the feeling of antipathy to tho blacks. A good deal of the suffering that had come to South Africa was owing tc the violation of natural laws and with respect to tho law of the right of the natives to live. In answer to questions as to whether he had known of any actually brilliant natives, and whether there were any educated natives in South Africa, Mr Fowlds replied in the affirmative. He had not met any of them on tho occasion of Ids visit, but he had heard of them, and ho had no doubt at all that some of the blacks were capable of just as high education and civilisation as white people in South Africa or anywhere else. A coloured man had succeeded in being elected to one of the provincial Parliaments, but natives were debarred ‘ from being elected to the Union Parliament. Another member of the audience inquired if there was any sign of Ethiopia nism in the country. Air Fowlds said there was a movement for the purpose of driving tho whites out of South. Africa, 1 but it was not meeting with much success. It had probably emanated from America, but as far as he could make out it was confined to some portions of Natal. He did not hear of the existence of such a movement either in Capo Colony or Transvaal, and he did not look upon it as becoming of importance for many years to come. The natives were separated over wide tracts of territory, and were so divided up by language that the result was that any possible combination was a long way off. He did not think there was much danger in the present generation, or for the next two or three generations, of the movement developing so as to mean any serious threatening of the white people in South Africa. In the first place, no natives were allowed to have arms or ammunition. except the Basutos, so that they could not hope to successfully stand up against the modern machine guns of the whites if they attempted to rise.