A NEW ZEALANDER FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8310, 13 December 1906, Page 5

A NEW ZEALANDER FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

DISCOURSES ON VARIOUS QUESTIONS. AN INTERESTING CHAT. Yesterday a representative of the Wairerapa Age had an interesting ohat witn Mr H. M. Bodlington, seuond son of Mr J. C. Boddington, of Masterton, and who arrived a few days ago in New Zealand on a visit from Capetown. It is a little over five years ago sinoe Mr Boddington, after returning to New Zealand with the Fourth Contingent, revered his connection with the Bank of New South Wales, to join the Btaff of the Bank nf Africa at Capetown. Mr Boddington is now on a six months' furlough, and shortly before leaving he was married to Miss Wilson, .second daughter of Mr Duncan Wilson, one of a very longsettled Cape family. Mr and Mrs Boddington arrived by the Corinthio last week. BRIGHTENING PROSPECTS. "Depression is rather aaute just now in South Africa, is it not?" queried the raporter. "Yes," said Mr Boddington. "Things are very bad right through South Africa, and especially iu Cape Colony." _"Wbat are the cause i?" "Well the country, generally, is still suffering a recovery 1 from the war, and in Cape Colony the depression was rendered more severe through a big boom, in city and snturbaa lands. Prospects are, however, rather brighter than they have been for sometime past. There is a distinct improvement in agricultural matters, and Cape Colony is now producing enough to feed itself—that is so far as beef and mutton concerned. Until recently we have had, unfortunately, to import very largely from the Ar' gentine."

I NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. "There is a big opening for JNew Zealand produce in South Afrioa, and a commercial agent is' very badly required to build up the trade. New South Wales has a most capable agent, and he Is doing good work for his country." THE NATAL RISING. "What about the decent rising in Natal?" "Well, the general fueling is that Natal was perfectly justified in the a'otioo that she took. Stringent aud quick measures were necessary to suppress the rebellion,and the application of such measures, it must certainly be admitted, has resulted satisfactorily. Lord Elgin's manifesto was received with great indignation everywhere, that is by the loyalists'and progressives. In Cape town public indignation meetings Would have beeu held if Lord Elgin had not given way. The Dutou are absolutely improgressive. The na: tives in Cape Colony tire quite satisfied with their lot, and. !n same districts, as you know, have the franchise." "Is the Ethiopean movement in Natal becoming serious?". "No, it is not, but, of course, it is not encouraged. There would be no movement except for a few agitators who go amongst the natives stirring them up." "Is the British rule considered seoure?" j

CHINESE JDABpUR. "Yes, the general feeling is tbut the British have absolutely got South Africa. What oan the Boers do—they have no arms and do means of preparing for War. The Boers reckon that, the British Liberal Government is their salvation. Of course, they are at some disagreement with the British Government over the Chinese labour question. Look at what Louis Botbn said the other day—that he would adviss the Het Viols: not to go to the poll at the elections of the Transvaal Government, unless the Transvaal Government bad the right to deal with the Ohineso labour question." , ' "The Chinese labour question is still a burning one?" "Yes, and in my personal opinion Chinese labour is most essential. What South Africa wants fs labourlabour! The farmers are complaining everywhere that labour is soaroe, and the mines could do with thousands of hands more if they were obtainable," • "What about the field for white labour?" "It is physically impossible for white labour to be successful.. For one thing the white labour would not and could not compete with the black, find in the mines white men cannot last for any lengtb of time." "I know of a New Zealander, a Wairarapa man, and an experienced Australian miner, .both, lery strong men, who tried workl in. the mines, but both of theai had to give it up. White men : - quickly contraot phthisis, but the Chinese seem to escape. The percentage of Chinese ouoliea sent to the hospital |is very small. Every man that 1 have talked with, who has studied the question, is of opinion that Chinese labour is a neoessity."

GERMANY'S AFRICAN WAR. "You aay that there „is a great scarcity of native labour, despite the labour imported from China, what is the oauae of that,?'* "Well, the blacks made too much money during the Boer war. Many of them made from £4O to £6O, and a sum of money like that will last a black a long time. Then Germany's war in the v south-west has led to their making a lot of money. The German war has been a God-send to South Afrioa. The Germans pur chased an enormous nmount of produce in Orange River Oolouy, and in Cape Colony, and the latter state prnotioally built all their transport waggons, eSo." "When the wars are all over, what about blaok labour then, is there not sufficient for the needs of the oountry?" "Certainly, there should then be a great deal of black labour available. The war in the south-west ia now practically over, and then there are a lot of rebels taken in Ibe recent war in Natal—a number of these are, 1 understand, to be sent to the diamond mines at Kimbeitley . No, there will never be sufficient

native labour for the mines now working, and awaiting development, and thin will mote particularly bethe case if South Africa goes ia for developing agricultural industries, and placing agrioalfcnre generally on a sound basis." "If the view you express is generally held by Britishers, tlie Imperial Government must' be deoidedly unpopular in Sooth Africa?" "Yes, the general feeling is against them. It is considered that the Constitution has been given too early to the Transvaal, but the only saving feature Is that the Constitution might have been worse. Of oourse, if the Het Vlok are left to deal with the Chinese labour question themselves, the result is a foregone conclusion," DR. JIM'S GOVERNMENT. .Referring to the Cape Government in which * Dr. Jameson, of raid fame, is the. Prwmier, Mr Boddington rerrarked: "The Jameson Government are going in for progressive principles. The latest legislation,carried included an irrigation sohemo; and a measure that will gradually briug education to a head, with a view to instituting prac tioally free education—a system that , will be very similar to tuafc in New ' Zealand. Dr. Jameson has only a majority of five, and it is reported that the Government is not altogether averse to a resolution in . order chat the Bond members may have a little experience during the present depression. When the Government took office the country was up to its neck in debt, and they oould not raise a loan recently in Loudon at a favourable rate, although the mosey was wanted most particularly .for the huge irrigation scheme, as well as for the construction of railways."