LYNCHING OF NEGRO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 1, 24 September 1937, Page 4

LYNCHING OF NEGRO

-Press AsBOciation.)

Springbok Say s it is "Quite Understandable"

ANOTHER SAYS IT IS "BUNKUM"

(By Telesraoh-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. To those who know the feeling that exists in South Africa between black and white, particularly if a white; should be killed or injured, the reported lynching of a negro by a group of white people at .Vereeniging is understandable, declared Mr. D. H. Craven, vice-captain of the Springbok team, when the cable message was referred to him. The lynching was reported by cable to have been a reprisal for the murder by excited nqtives of policemen who were raiding an hotel. Mr. Craven said that although lynching was unknown in the present day it had happened before. "It is probably quite true, and it is possible that people would act in this way under the circumstances that are de3cribed," Mr. Craven added. "While ifc is most unusual, I* cannot say it is profoundly surprising." ' A somewhat different view was taken by Mr. L. C. Strachan, who knows the conditions in the Vereeniging distriet and who as a member of the detective force was stationed in this area. He said one of his duties was to attend native meetings on behalf of the police, and from his knowledge of the feeling iu the distriet he regarded the story as iinprobable. He could certainly not credit the lynching of a native. The reported suggestion of the commando to ride to Pretoria to bring back General Smuts forcibly was characterised by Mr. Strachan as "all bunkum. " He could not imagine his people doing a thing like that, and any demands to the Minister would have to go through the proper channels. They could not expect him to come at their bidding.