ALARMING CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 7

ALARMING CRISIS.

INDIAN PASSIVE RESISTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA. • REFUSE TO WORK. CANE PLANTATIONS FIRED. By Telegraph—Pr«s« Association-Copyright Johannesburg, November 17. One hundred Rand police have been sent to. Natal in connection with the Indian trouble. Durban, November 17. The situation on. neighbouring plantations is daily becomiug more alarming. Strikors bosoiged the Edgcombo estates in order to induce tho workers tliero to strike. European women and children took refuge in the factories. Tho police were suinmoaod. The Indians assailed them with sticks and stones. Thirty Indians and one trooper were injured. Indians on other plantations set fire to the cano, causing serious damage. Tho situation in the city is more sorious, and the strike is rapidly becoming general. Tho harbour, corporation, and railway employees have struck; also the drivers, cooks, waiters, and messengers, Scavenging is also suspended.

Caloutta, Novembor 17. . The Hon. Mr, Gokhalo, representative of non-official members of the Bombay Legislature on tho Viceroy's Legislative Council, is organising a flroiister campaign in support of the South African passive resistors. Both Hindus and Mohammedans are participating. Meetings -are being held in; all the important towns. , AN OFFICIAL DENIAL. (Rec. November 18, 10.15 p.m.) ' Durban, November 18. The "Cape Times" and Natal "Mercury" throughout have supported the demand for tho repeal of the £3 poll tax. It is officially denied tSiat the Government has issued orders to suppress the strike . Tho men who have been sentenced axe chiofly tho two thousand resistors arrested at Balfour, and who will work out their sentences in compounds at their own mines, as gaol accommodation is insufficient. Flogging is'not allowed, no arrests aro allowed itri* less acts of violence have been committed, and no shooting is authorised Unless absolutely necessary for maintaining order. i ' • .

A mooting of four thousand Indians, hold at Durban, resolved t» cable to the Indian and Imperial Governments., pointing out that there is no organisation to feed them; "If the Government- does not intervene," states the. petition, "many lives will bo lost." . CRUELTIES ALLEGED. London, November 18. Tho Natal Indian Association has cabled to Lord Ampthiel (Viceroy of India pro tern, 1004). a statement that Indians aro being sentenced to hard labour for absence from roll-sca.il, and that-two Magistrates warned the Indian labourers that for refusing to do their work they would he starred, mercilessly flogged, and driven underground with tue lash.

MONEY FROM INDIA FOR THE .. RESISTERS. "Times"—Sydney "Sun'' Special Cabled (Roc.' November .18, '6.55 p.m.) Calcutta) November 18. Mr. Gokhale, leador of tho Indian Nationalists, at Bombay, has received a telegram from' Natal stating that. 'in order to suppress the strike the Government has directed tho mine com.pounds to' bo treated as gaols for men. refusing to work. • ■ ■" ' Tho Indian papers, acceptiiig tho truth of his statement, are opening subscription lists in aid of the. Passive Resistors. Cape Town, November 18. The authorities describe tho altercation as a grave exaggeration. No orders have been.issued,to suppress the strike. Tho sugar catte season is at its height, and tho mills aro idle. Tho crop is in jeopardy. '

- Writing from Cape Town on September 23 last, "Tho Times'-' correspondent reported that the chief gnwinds for the revival of the Indian passive resistance tothe South African Antkilien Jin-migra-tion Act, are that the racial bar still remains m tho clause perpetuating the old Free Stato harriers, that there is no statutory provision for the recognition of monogamous Hindu marriages within tho Union, and that in some respects— a?, for instance, the movement of Natal Indiana into, the Cape Province-restrictions have been tightened rather than loosenedWith regard to the first and third griev-ances,-it is doubtful if any practical hardships will result, and this makes it difficult for the, white eostmuaitv (, d rea i„ ise the Indian point of view, With regard to tho second, it is equally doubtful it tho Union Parliament thoroughly understood the position in the course of the somewhat hurried discussions on the point which were all that the pressure of a congested session allowed. Meanwhile, in the interests of the Indians themselves, it is desirable to observe that the prospects of reconsideration are not likely to be furthered,,but rather to be retarded, by any over-vehemenee oft the part of Indian well-wishers in the Houses of Lords or of Commons. For instant*, th« recent suggestion that because Imperial troops have been, employed in the .Johannesburg strike, the British Government may, therefore, put down its foot on tke Indian question has aroused irritation and resentment even in circles favourably inclined towards Indian interests.

" Tho treatment accorded in some of the British colonies to the Sing's subjects of Asiatic race continues to he a burnin" questionin India. The Transvaal Imm£ gration Law and the Asiatic Registration Laws, exclude Indian, immigrants from the province, irrespective bf individual qualifications, and'imppsa upon Indians already in the country restrictions which are regarded as humiliating. ' The representatives of the Indian residents have expressed themselves as willing that Asiatic immigration should be lestrieted under the ordinary immigration laws by an education test, 6o as to. exclude other than professional men aid university graduates, and oven to limit the number of those to six per'annum, but they resent the indignity of having to take out licenses renewable periodically. With tho view, of redressing the miest serious of these grievances, an Immigration Bill, which had been the subfect of corfsspoudence batween tho Imperial and Vnion Governments (Cd. 5575, waa introduced into the South African House of Assembly in March, 1911. It? main feature Wao tho substitution of an educational for a racial qualification, the test proposed being the ability to writo fifty words in a language selected by the. immigration officer. Owing to kck of time for its discussion the Bill was withdrawn, but un agreement was entered into with the representatives of the Indian community; for the introduction ef a similar Bill in the following session., ,and for the relaxation, meanwhile, of the most offensive of the restrictions. Another Bill was introduced fff May, 1912, but* lilie its predecessor, was laid by. Mr. Gokhale, tho leader or the Indian Progressives', visited South Africir*'in October, at the invitation of tho Indian residents there, to study at first hand the problem of their status and treatment.