SOUTH AFRICA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1300, 1 December 1911, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICA.

THE NEED FOR NEW SETTLERS. Tho Government of the Union of South Africa (says a correspondent of Iho "Manchester Guardian") aa-c now considering the question of the closer settlement of tho hind, r,nd in particular the recommendations of the Select Committee on tho matter recently appointed by the Semite. The Committee has come to the conclusion that tho future development of South Africa on civilised lines will only be possible by the presence of a virile white race, and that there is substantial risk of the gravest consequences to the white population unless it can be greatly strengthened and constantly recruited. Moreover, the Union does not at present produce nearly sufficient foodstuffs for its own needs, and therefore war or even threat of war would entail much distress amongst the population. The Committee accordingly expressly ncommencls that the best interests of tho Union would be served by augmenting the ranks of the settlers with arrivals from overseas. It seems undoubted that the chances of individual prosperity are. always greater when settlers from overseas are in clcso fanning touch with Iho young South African-born farmer?. The'one class has obviously much to le-arn from the other, and tho interchauga of ideas seem.-; inrariably to lead to close and individual friendship between the races. The Committee considers that there are at present enough suitable South Africans to justify, an immediate beginning, and recommends that steps should at onco be taken to introduce desirable settlers from the United Kingdom. These should receive no gratuities from tho State, but. suitable settlers should be. granted sea and land transport at very low rates, and should be provided with dwellings, boundary fences, etc., at cost price, and helped in other ways. The Committee also recommend that a substantial loan should bo raised by the Government, to be expended at the rate of about half a million annually in the purchase of suitable land for settlement, and in advancing loans for tho purchase of farms.