THE COLOR QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 201, 22 February 1912, Page 5

THE COLOR QUESTION.

THE POSITION IN SOUTH AFRICA. By Cable—Frew Association—Copyrigkt. London,' February 20. In the House of Lords, Lord Emmott, replying to Lord Ampthill regarding the status of Indians in South Africa, aaid he believed the situation was improving. The Union Ministers tried to meet the Government on important points.

Lord Selborne, late High Commissioner in South Africa, declared, without underrating the Indian case, it was necessary to understand the South African point of view. It was a question of Eastern and Western civilisation. Indian competition was serious, and, if not restricted, would cause the Enropean trader to disappear. If English tradesmen were subjected to similar competition, English opinion would not remain as impartial as it was now. Ifj teas an unsound argument to say that all kinds of British subjects had the tame rights in all parts of the Empire. The special interests of each should be the first consideration. South Africans desired to restrict immigration, while treating those domiciled in the country

fairly. Lprd Crewe, Secretary for the Colonies, said he hoped he put the position dearly at the Imperial Conference. He thought Lord Ampthill somewhat pessimistic on in thinking that the conversations at the Imperial Conference on the subject had no result. He testified *o the goodwill of the Union Ministers, but said he was afraid that goodwill was not universal in South Africa. There was a gaod deal of prejudice beyond that duo to the competition of Indians in trade. He deprecated the treatment of educated Indians. Opinion in India was growing more opposed to emigration.