THE NATIVE RISING IN NATAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1700, 16 March 1906, Page 3

THE NATIVE RISING IN NATAL.

To the Editor .Gisborne Times.)

Sir, —The above subjectia doubtless one that has engrossed attention on the part of your readers. It cannot be denied that it is difficult at this distance to form any very accurate opinion or judgment of this unhappy occurence, but, Mr Editor, it does seem as though, from what may be gathered from the cablegrams, a con' siderable burden has placed on the shoulders of the native population in Natal ? Is it then very surprising that discontent has resulted ? Not only has a hut tax been on them but a poll tax as well. Even if an inferior race to the European’it ;f must be admitted that they were the original possessors of the country. ■ Perhaps it would be too much to expect the legislators of Natal to aot strictly up to Rousseau’s axiom that “ man is born free,” but surely it would appear that they have quite forgotton or ignored it. If I mistake not it was only the th

the only the other day that Premier Seddon wasrebuking the natives in some part of Hawke’s Bay for parting with their lands to Europeans and on lease (not freehold, mark) at that. I would ask you, sir, is not the contrast between the way natives are treated here and in IS atal an extreme one ?—I am, etc., J. G. Cox.