The Colour Line.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 May 1914, Page 2

The Colour Line.

The treatment meted out to the black and half-caste population of South Africa is the subject of an interesting article by Mr. William j Streiford in the "Contemporary Review." If a man of colour, however eminent —and Dr. Booker Washington is one—wished to enter and live in the Transvaal to-morrow, says the writer, the following conditions would confront him. As "coloured," and not a pure native, he would escape certain disabilities ; but he could not buy a postage stamp at the ordinary counter of the G.P.O. Hc> must go to a room underground. He could not walk in the public parks, kept up partly by means of his money, paid in rates. He could not watch a game on the sports grounds. If his white father had died there, and slept in the white cemetery, he i'could not visit his grave any more ' than he emild have followed his re--1 mains to the grave on the day of : his funeral. If he walked on the public sidewalks, it would be at the risk of arj rest, and fine or imprisonment. If Ihe boarded a tram, and a. drunken white man called for his removal, he would have to leave the car, or he i would be thrown off it. Tie could ' not ride in a cab except a "secotidj class" one. i He could not dwell where he willed, i subject to good behaviour, nor could he buy any house he wished for among those for sale. If he were in the last stages of disease and destitution, in a. country without workhouses, hut for private charity, he must die and rot !by the wayside, for he could not i claim to enter the Chronic Sick Home, maintained and administered i by the State.