The Transvaal Since the War.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 250, 19 November 1903, Page 4

The Transvaal Since the War.

An ex-Repatriation Officer has contributed a series of articles to the London Tiuies on " The Transvaal since the War." Seeing that so many New Zealanders have settled and" are still settling in that country, the following should prove of interest :

In a little over twelve months no one can expect the ravages of a nearly three years' war to be thoroughly repaired ; but to one like myself who travelled over the country immediately after the declaration of peace, who has been continually travelling over the country since watching the progress of the work of restoration, and who has been over it once again quite recently, the ex- ! traordinary rapidity with which the recovery' has been made is astounding. The first trek revealed nothing but devastation, desolation, blockhouses and barbed wire. The last trek revealed houses built up ; cattle, horses, and livestock of all descriptions grazing on the veld ; immense tracts of ground ploughed up; roads and drifts repaired ; outlying towns, formerly in ruins, now not only rebuilt and prosperous, but growing with extraordinary rapidity. One found all the paraphernalia of local government—police, magistrates and officials of all kinds. One found everywhere prospectors and others bent on the development of the country, no doubt for the sake of their own and their principals' pockets, but at the same time benefiting the State. One saw schools full of happy children. One caraa across new settlers, full of courage, enterprise and hope. One visited settlements of Dutch and British side by side determined to take their part in the building up of successful communities. There was the country, hardly free from the visible signs of war and in spite of all the set-backs and difficulties encountered since its conclusion, beginning to assume the aspect of a flourishing colony inhabited by a hopeful and determined people. Mistakes in the local administration of the work have doubtless 'been many. A great deal has been done well, and a good deal done badly, but the net result is more than satisfactory. All this has meant an enormous amount of energy and forethought, and I firmly believe that the hand that has unwaveringly -directed the destinies of South Africa will be felt long after the memories of the war have become memories of past centuries.

The policy of lookiag upon the Boer as a British subject from the moment n6 becomes one has been carried out from the beginning. Great Britain, at any rate, can rest content with her work of re-settling the former inhabitants of her new. colonies. But there is still another side of the question to be considered. How do the Boers themselves look upon what has been done for them, and what are their feelings towards their new Government ? The answer to this question must to a very great extent guide our future policy in the new colonies. Personally, I believe that the average Boer has a distinct feeling of gratitude for what has been done for him, and that he is fully aware of the magnanimity of his* new Government. But hia gratitude is to ,a degree discounted by the uncertainty of the future. The great majority are in the Government's debt ; and it is the doubt as to how far their share of the free jjift of £3,000,000 will get them out of debt which looms largely in their minds. To my. mind the hardest task is still in front—namely, the collection of debts, the just assessment of claims, and, above all, the fulfilment of promises made. It is the manner in which this work is carried out which' will determine the attitude to be adopted by the greater proportion of the Boer population. It. must bej carried out with the most scrupulous fairness and the utmost tact, and no promise made by us must remain un- ■ fulfilled. The Boers do not accepi the new order of things without considerable misgiving, and the hurt to their national pride cannot be at once healed ; but I fully believe that for the most part they have faith and confidence in their new Government, and that the confidence will be kept so l"t>g as we carry out our professed principles of integrity and fair play. But, if once lost, it will be iwell-nigta impossible to regain. It is a diflicult task which faces the Administration, >Uut one which, if carried out well, will have a lasting effect on the future of the country. , What I have stated above applies to the average country Boer ; but there are two other classes still to be considered. First there are the

" temporary irreconcilables," and these. I am afraid, exist to a very considerable number. They are led by clever men, and their attitude is hidden by an outward mask of passive acceptance. So long as any thing can be got out of the Government, their true feeling will be kept in check, but when they have orce obtained all they think possible they may be expected to show their hand. This class requires governing with the greatness firmness, and any indication of sedition or open disloyalty must be instantly suppressed. It is only by lirm, though scrupulously just, handling that these quondam irreconcilables will in time fall into line with the rest. But if they art allowed a free, hand, and open sedition is winked at, they will become a source of considerable political trouble in the future. There is yet one other class, though but a small one. These we may call the " permanent irreconcilables." And it is from these that the chief danger may arise. They still share' with their cousins of the Cape Colony the aspiration of some day seeing a. great Afrikander Republic in South Africa. The idle dream of obtaining this by the sword has been put aside ; but the dream remains ; and the manner in which it is to be realised is by political intrigue. These dreamers huve already begun to sow the seed of discontent amongst the otherwise well-disposed inhabitants : but whether it germinates or not must depend upon the future policy of the Government. They have spread the ■belief that the seeming magnanimity and generosity of the Government is but a sign of weakness engendered by the fear that the Boer, if not well treated, may rise again, and tread Great Britain under foot once and for all. Again., they say that, althougd the Government have idone much for them, in so doing they havc cunningly tied a millstone of debt round their necks, and thus ol>tained a hold upon their lands and possessions. It is with preposterous suggestions of this nature that the gratitude and loyalty of the Boers are being undermined. But taken all round, I believe the Boers to be well disposed towards their new Government and ready to give it a fair trial. They want rest and quiet after their recent troubles, to know that their interests are being pio» tected. and to be left alone on the veld to reconstruct their rural society. Keep the agitator and the political firebrand away ; give the Boer a chance of learning British methods of justice and Government, supply him with sound education and wholesome literature, and he will become an invaluable addition to the Imperial family. But Great Britain must lie the master, and that fact must be thoroughly known and understood. So long as this is felt they will show their excellent virtue of peaceful tractahility ; but if thoy once feel that ther can get the whip hand, good-bye to the fusion of races and brotherhood theory. The State, of Cape Colony is a fair warning of the truth of this. In that colony disloyalty is still rampant, and the principal political question is purely of a racial nature. The coming

election will be watched with the utmost interest by all having the welfare of South Africa at heart, for the victory of the Bond would mean a serious menace to British interests throughout South Africa. Let this fact not be lost sight of in considering the apparent programmes of the two contending parties. But it is the Transvaal colony that is going to be " the hub" of the British Federated States of South Africa ; and it only requires a firm, bold and broad policy to bring that consummation within reach. The dream of an Afrikander Republic need not be seriously taken account of, except in so far that the aspirations thus raised might somewhat retard the realisation of our own definite polity.