THE MENACE OVER SOUTH AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 274, 15 August 1919, Page 7

THE MENACE OVER SOUTH AFRICA

A DARK' PICTURE LAND, LABOUR, AND THE NATION PROBLEM J. H. Harris, in an outspoken article in the "Contemporary Review," draws a dark picturo of the menace which hangs over South Africa. He fears that such a fire may be lit along the Reef that none can quench it: "Those twin means of oppression—land and labour—are nowhere more acute, than throughout South Africa. The land question is becoming as great a menace to South African.peaco as the sleeping industrial volcano along the Rand. "The real menace to South African l>cace is the native position," says Mi - . Harris. "The only way of salvation is along the road of justice to the 5,000,000 natives. This is far more than a question of black versus white, for the prevailing injustice is poisoning the spring of all relationship, as between white and while, and as between white and African or Indian. It is because there can ho no real peace in South Africa until the broad lines of justice between the races are firmly laid that true statescraft must besriu with the people and with the land of South Africa. The situation is tho more tragic because the golden moment is now, and because there is as yet no sign that British' statecraft is alive to the splendour of the vision! The African south of the Zambesi is the victim to-day of three capital forms of injustice -industrial helotry, insecurity of land tenure and political ostracism. "Ten years ago ,the fiercest criticism was directed against the mine owners of the Rand. ■ Statistics and reports were produced which placed the owners of the gold mines in a very unenviable light. To-day the native appears to lmvo few grievances against the mine owners, but a terrible hatred against organised white labour is seizing upon the native mind. The reason for this growing antipathy is that I lie trade unions of South Africa deny to the native the right to rise in the industrial scale, and insist upon keepins all natives'to the position of hewers of wood and drawers of water. "The year 1918 witnessed developments which must bring a flush of shame to every Britisher—developments so extreme that they have come as a shock. to the best opinion in South Africa. In July last the Federation of Trades presented to the Chamber of Mines an ultimatum from the miners demanding the dismissal within thirty days' of all coloured drill sharpeners. This action by organieed white labour 1 las made a profound iinprefsiott.in South Africa, for it is a declaration of war upon the coloured people. ~ "By this outrageous action democratic labour organisations hare driven into tlio arms of the natives hundreds of thousands of men in whose ranks are to bo found potential leaders, of tho type of Booker Washington, or oven military commanders of the type of Tpussaint Louverture. This attitude on the part of organised labour is the more deplorable whon it is remembered that the coloured. or half-caste people of South Africa are tho sons of the very fathers who now- deny industrial, freedom to their offspring, who after all, are only in this world through the debauchery of African womanhood.

"The grievances which the natives suffer in the industrial world owin/j to the colour bar aro (1) tfha bar to advancement; (2) inadequacy of wages; (3) pass laws. There, are now fewer than seven wholo groups of industrial positions forbiddpn to the natives bv the, Mine Workers' Union because, and only because of the colour of the men's skin! To this fundamental dteabilitv in the industrial world -there is all the irritation of the racial pass lr.ws, tho inequality of compensation for mini"'? diseases, accidents, and deaths. Thus a situation is created which it is -generally recognised may at any moment lead to a catastrophe.

"A moment's, reflection will demonstrate this great potential, dangor In the.Transvaal. Along that twenty-eight .miles of gold reef there is crowded a mass of nearly two hundred and fifty thousand workers, black of skin but moved with the same sentiments, desires and passions as tho operatives of any other industrial area in the world. These sons of Africa have for years been kept loy.il by their intense nffecfion for and confidence in British administrative iustice. That bond of loyalty is breaking asunder, and these men of Zululand. Bechuanaland and Basutoland are. beni? driven by sicinl ostracism, industrial and political injustice into a solid but seething mass of discontent.

"Missionaries' and commissioners' r». oorts have told hut one story, which maybe summed up in tho words: T,et no time he lost, for at any moment a lighted mitch mav fall and set up socb n. flume, all alone- the reef that none will be able to nuench it! The Land Menace. "Those twin means of oppression—labour and land—are nowhere more acuto than throughout South Africa. There was a moment in 1913 when a permanent settlement of the land question seemed possible.. General Botha introduced and carried in tho South African Parliament and secured royal consent to his gicat scheme of land separation -Setween tho white and coloured people of South Africa. Tho natives who wero .unst concerned formally 6tated that if the Measure were fairly carried out they mado no protest against the principle; thus small importance attaches to them for tho fact that the situation has grown steadily worse.

"The principle of the Act of 1913 was not racial segregation, but a separation of land into white and black holdings coupled with tho priceless boon of absolute security to the native, races of all lands allotted to them. But the fatal blot in the'whole measure was that two hundred and sixty million acres were to bo placed at tho disposal of tho million whites, while only forty million acres, and. that not of tho best, were to be allocated to the natives.

"It is true that commission followed commission for tho purpose of examining tho proposed native areas, but thin and the delay due to tho war jravo opportunity for both criticism and misrepresentation to flourish and propa- ■ ganda by tho whiles to spread throughout the territory, with the result that the operations of the 1913 Act and its successive and dependent measures aro all held up, «nd it eeems to be generally agreed that these measure. l ; cannot now Iw applied. Meantime tho land question is becoming as great a menaeo to South African peaco as the sleeping industrial volcano along tho reef. "Thus to tho British pcoplo there comes to-day the call for a great, decision. South Africa once again puts the test, and once again there comes the summons to ehooso between liberty and shivery. Is South Africa to be consolidated through the bonds of a commonwealth which knows no colour bar in justice, industry and religion, or will South. African peace be wrecked upon the pernicious doctrine of the Transvaal Grondwet which declares that there can Iw no equality in Church or State between white and black? "We must either progress along tho path of a real commonwealth of nations or drift along' the downward path of a slavo Empire to certain dissolution." '

Britisli Columbia produced nearly 63,nfin.flOflU). of copper in 1918. A Parliamentary Committee has been appointed to inquire into the cost of livin'r in Canada. The death of Dr. Me.miel Franco, President of the Kcpublic of Paraguay, is announced. Crop conditions (hroiisliont Canada are reported to bo very satisfactory. Isv an overwhelming majority tho Anglican Synod at (Marie has refused to admit women as delegates. Vocational trainin? for the 4.00.000 disabled men of tho United States Army hn= been provided for by a spocial Bill. General Diaz has boon awarded by the King of Italy the Grand Cross of the Order of St. 'Maurice and St. Lazarus. American Boy Scouts have opened a national campaign for 1,000,000 associato members and wherewith to expand their organisation. Canada is advancing Rumania a credit of 25 million dollars (45,000.000) for tho purchase of supplies in Canada, and charging 5J pet cent, interest.