Hapless South Africa. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 60

Hapless South Africa. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— lt is a curious and lamentable fact that from the time of the first connection with Snith Afhc-i Btitish statesmanship \r,nd administrative ability always appear to have been paralysed, and the record of a rule that has been so successful in other parts of the world is there a history of failure and discredit. Our maladroit treatment of the Dutch led as much as the abolition of slavery to the "great trek." The Sand River Convention in 1852, by giving independence to the most turbulent and irreconcilable oi Ihe trek Boers, laid the foundation of endless trouble. Equally fatuous was the forcing of independence on the Orange River Sovereignty (subsequently the Orange Free State, and now the Orange" River Colony) in 1834, and the recall of the one capable man in South Africa— Sir Harry Smitb. Then, again, we had the capitulation to the Boers at Majuba, in the face of three defeats inflicted on the small force we had there at the time, notwithstanding Mr Gladstone's declaration that he was going to "sternly vindicate the Queen's authority." It was hoped by all who supported the Government, in the late war that this deplorable record v/as to be succeeded by a happier sate of afiaiis; that the country woulcl now enter on a new era of liberty, peace, and -progress; and that free institutions and good government would make the country as happy and prosperous as Canada or Australasia. That those bright anticipations should have been so ut.eriy falsified is a cause of deep humiliation and disappointment to those who so readily gave their aid both in men and money to assert the British supremacy in that country. Had it been thought for a moment that a worse tyranny than Kruger and his Hollander clique would ensue: that th« country would be flooded with a race that has proved an unmitigated curse in eveiy country tliey have gone voluntarily (tor tlieie is not, I think, a case on record of any Western race importing them or inviting them to immigrate), it is certain that no assistance would have been forthcoming from these colonies. In all the dismal record of maladministration in South Afiica there is nothing that will compare with this act of infamy. We are inflicting a great wrong on the thiee classes in the country —the KaiSrs, the Boors, and the British. Because tho former refused to agree to a reduction in their wages, and to tolerate the infamous conditions prevailing in the compound*, 200,000 "blacklegs" are to be introduced. The Boers will, no doubt, resent their native land being inundated with the sweepings of China— '■paiiahs, tho lowest o'acs of ooohes." on& apparently well-informed writer describes them: iac men of British xace. mest of whom endured the perils and privations of the war. and some of whom, for their gallantry, received the "D.5.0." and other decorations, are left to starve at the street corners, whilst the mineowners, who kept discreetly m the background as long as any b\i!lets were flying about, nnd who are mostly aliens Ije'.onging to a race that hi<? mad? itself detested ior its extortionate ami heartless conduct all fl.'? woild over, aie iw>si<b3ingr '".loimous wealth.

It is pitiful to notice the arguments that cte-~ fenders _of the Government advance in its support. For instance, we were told a few weeks t'po by your contributor, "Civis," who has taken up his caustic pen in suppoit of Chinese ! ibour. that d) it was partly bias that induced people to oppose it ; (2) that white people could not work in "semi-tropical. Africa" ; (3) that the majority of people in the Transvaal supported it; (4) and that the Bishop of Pret.Giia and pome Konconfoimist organisations were in its favour. Those thus charged with opposing the Government from party feeling are the same people who enthusiastically supported the same Government at the time of the war; and, in fact, the Government's recognised majority in Parliament suffered a great redue+lon in numbers in the division on this question. So that, contention falls to the ground. As a matter of fact, it is '"Civis" himself who always appears unable to look at a question except through party-spectacles. The notion that white men aie uualble or unwilling io work in South Africa is equally groundless, as I can personally testify. They are only too pvmous to do so, if given the chance. It was the principal argument of the late Cecil Rhodes for expansion of territory in tbat country that "more room was wanted for the overcrowded millions of England." Then, again, the only expression of opinion that the people of the Transvaal have been allowecTto give lias been diiectcd by the capitalistic gang, who have ii&ed the most violent intimidation and the grossest bribery to disguise the real feeling of the country. In the Cape Colony the Premier was letumed pledged to oppose Chinese immigration, and has, introduced a bill into the local Parliament to that effect. As regards the Bishop of Pretoria, his opinion is neutralised by the Bishop of Bloeanfontein, -who is strongly opposed to it.

The only bright feature of the whole miserable affair i& that the Home Government, by ppssmg the Chinese Ordinance, have signed ll.tji.- o.vn clcji+h w a riant, and the general electio.i that isiijncb b°. lorn; postponctii, will undoubtedly consign them to extinction.— l am, Chas. L. Casey. Belinout, Southland!, June 10.

On Sunday morning an elderly woman was observed walking on the beach of Caroline Bay, Timaru, by herself, and a little later s l ie wab seen to wulk into the sea, evidently with the intention of drowning herself. Some pass.eis-by who noticed her action proceeded immediately to her assistance, and succeeded in preventing her from drowning. After removal to a private hospital she rapidly recovered, and when she regained coaisciou^niess her remarks- left no doubt that she intended to destroy lieiaelf.