INDIANS IN NATAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19997, 14 January 1927, Page 10

INDIANS IN NATAL.

DISGUSTED BRITISH COLONISTS. DEPARTURE FOR NEW ZEALAND. (Feom Oub Own Coeeespondent.) PIETERMARITZBURG Nov. 19 Short, but significant, the following letter under the heading “Indian Habits, appeared in the Natal Mercury f November 12. It deals with a practical example of the "rave injury done by the presence of the Asiatic to the British settlement and progress of the most British province of the Union, of South Africa, and at its fountainhead, the port of Durban. In this case, because of the Indian deterrent, intending British settlers for Natal have left Natal for New Zealand, and are inviting others to do the same. The following is the letter: sir —Perhaps the following will be of interest to your readers, and can also be considered by the writers of the dope about “The Possibilities of More Trade with India”—winch is, by the way. al! eve-wash before the coming Asiatic Conference, and is like giving a child a spoonful of sugar before its medicine. Years ago I met a gentleman at Wembley and induced him to take a share in a pou.try and fruit farm in Durban suburbs. He and family arrived, and were delighted for a time. After a time he seemed to get depressed by, as he termed it, coolie competition and filth (I have coolie neighbours) . A NEW ZEALAND CRITICISM. To cut a long story short, be and his family left Natal for New Zealand, and I here quote a passage from his last letter: I do not want you to think that we consider you falsely represented the country to us, for it was all you said, and more. But why have you allowed the Asiatic to squat on all the glorious places?—the beautiful banks of the Umgeui mouth and a host of other places are all taken by them. In England it is a punishable offence to have mats shaken outside the door after 8 a.m.; and yet out of the 30 mornings you motored me into Durban 27 of them were utterly spoiled by a low-lying house, one of a bunch of three, exhibiting a number of double and single wet beds to dry in the sun on a dilapidated verandah, and this within a tew yards of a general store and eatinghouse, and, shame say, a little farther on a police station. 1 am sure some day a disease will start, and will he terrible. We were all glad to get on the ship and have a good bath. I should like to add that I have located the house at Mayville, and find it quite as my friend declares. Out of 15 mornings up till noi7 I have seen these beds 12 limes. , _ . The trade the Indians are causing is: White passengers on outward bound ships. My friend’s letter concludes with an invitation to Dunedin for myself and family—l am, etc.. Wake Up, Durban.