Rights of Natives.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13608, 30 May 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

Rights of Natives.

TREATMENT OF ZULULAXD

Sir Charles Dilkft was the chief speaker al- the annual meeting of the Aborigines Protection Society, which wufc held on April sth, at C'axton Hall. He moved a. resolution emphasising the ne> - d, in view of the pnpo>:ed federation of South Africa, of insuring under any arrangement the claim of qualified natives to share all political and social rights with the whites, and of less civilised natives to an adequate reserve of land and freedom in the disposal of their labour.

The report of the Natal Native Commission, said Sir Charles, had proved up to the hilt that in the treatment, of Zululand pledges 'had been constantly broken. With regard to the quest-ion how far interference w:u> justified with a self-governing Colony, he pointed out that both Lord Ruijscll and Karl Grey had held that in some cases the good faith of Parliament and the eafetj r of the State were too important matters Lo be delegated. The resolution wais seconded by Mr. W. P. Byhjs, M. P., and carried. Sir Henry Cotton, M.P., who presided, suggested that the best remedy for the litate of affairs in Zululand would be to remove tlhit area from the control of Natal and place it directly under the authority of the Crown, as was the case with BaiiUtoland.

Strong specch-js were* made on the position of affairti in Zululand by Mr. John M. Robertson, M.P.; who denounced the Natal Government for a flagrant disregard of the principles of justice, and by Mr. R. L. Outhwaite.

The Congo question was dealt with by Mrs. J. H. Harris and Mr. Henry W. Nevinson, who called special attention to the slave traffic at Angola. The slaves were Employed in the cocoa plantations, nominally under contract, but the real condition was,that of slavery. About 4,000 fresh labourers were brought in annually from' inany- different parts, collected sometimes by force and sometimes by barter. HO suggested boycotting all firms whoss cocoa was grown under these/conditions.