KING KHAMA AND DRINK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 220, 11 June 1919, Page 7

KING KHAMA AND DRINK

PROTEST AGAINST SUPPLY TO NATIVES. (From a Correspondent of the Loudon "Daily News.") The absorption of tho public in tlio war has diverted attention from a violent controversy which ' has been raging throughout South Africa ujkjii the drink question. A Select Committee, presided over by Mr. Booth, has been consider* ins the dangerous situation which has arisen through the colour prohibition. South African legislation, it will bo remembered, permits tho salo of alcohol to white men, but not to coloured men, ' The initial difficulty is, of course, that of defining a "coloured" man, but the growtii of "illicit" sale is now attended with such grave and increasing abuses that South Africa is faced either with more freedom lo drink alcohol or total prohibition. This was the situatiun Mr, llooth's committee was Appointed'to consider, with the result that a reconnucndalion has been made, that "Capo wines" should now bo sold to the natives. Many leading public men havo joined ' tho temperance advocates in denouncing tho proposals, and aro demanding total ; prohibition, whilst tho leading'wine and spirit merchants of Capo Colony are supporting tho Booth Commission. A now development has.now taken place owing to a stirring manifesto issued to tin? white men of South Africa by King Khama and his chiefs, which places on record: Their determination that tho rulers of the white people will understand that thoy are strongly opposed to supplying tho native labourers with light wines or boor, cither by pur- , chase or free gift Tliey hear with sorrow that tho white people wisli to allow the native workers to buy light wine? in Jo- ' hnnnesburg, and also beer. They rcpcctl'nlly a.«k your serious consider-

fttion of this, their strong protest, for they do not desire to seo their

people become drunkards. This "message" was passed by full council in Serowo, and signed by 8S chiefs. Khama, wlieu forwarding the inwsage. said that if the Bill wcro pawed Ins people woiiM not allow their men to go to the mines in Johannesburg, "ft will be useless for any man to coiuo to me," he said, "and ask for workers."

Opening a Land" Army Fair at Oxlord, Miss Mericl Talbot said that women's services would bo required on the land till October, and that their numbers would need to bo augmented bj sorno five thous.anddurimj.th* faiwK» seaaoni