PINCH OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1916, Page 3

PINCH OF WAR.

SOUTH AFRICA AS IT IS. *%i THE REBELLION AND ITS SEQUEL. FEATHERS AND DIAMONDS. South Africa is feeling the pinch of war, particularly in its extensive diamond and ostrich feather trades. Mr. J. Craii, a Capetown business man, in the course of an interview with a representative of The Post, explained that had it not been for the rebellion headed by De Wet, many undertakings that the Union Government had in contemplation would have been proceeded with. The rebellion caused a lot of mischief and uncertainty; but things should look brighter soon now that German Southwest Africa was conquered and (as he believed) German East Africa would be, Germans in Cape Colony—i'l fact, in the entire Union of South Africa—were now rooted out. When the Transvaal Highlanders were in Capetown they learned of what had been doing in Johnnesburg. They very promptly applied the same treatment to Capetown, feling very bitter over the Lusitania tragedy, They burned down a large number of extensive German business places in Capetown. The Lusitania outrage did more to befou'l the German name in Africa than anything else. General Botha was certainly a very ible man, but with the rebellion came one of the most difficult problems that could ever confront a soldier and a, statesman. That was firing oh his own people. But General Smuts was superior as a soldier to General Botha. That was the opinion throughout Africa, and it would be seen to be correct, Mr. Cran felt sure, when the undertaking in which Smuts was engaged in East Africa was completed. , The war. by the calls for men and money ,had entailed much sacrifice upon the part of South Africans, but they recognised that it was Britain or Germany. They still preferred Britain, and would continue to fight for her. Speaking of the Dutch, Mr. Cran said the feeling of hostility to the British was kept alive by the Predikants (clergy) and the women. But for that he believed all traces of bitterness would have vanished. The Boer was not an energetic farmer, nor particu- I larly enterprising, but, man for man, with some exceptions, he got along very well with tfie British.

[ De Wet wa? still a dangerous man. Upon him and the rebels who followed him British leniency was lost. They could not understand it. They gave their parole, but that was worth nothing, because they were not men of principle and honor. They were rebels still at heart, and quite capable of d«ing incalculable harm, and would do had they the opportunity. Botha knew quite well the people he had to deal with and the great problem he had to solve.

RACIAL FEELING DIES HARD. The unification of South Africa had been a groat achievement; still it did not wholly obliterate the feeling of dislike for the British still lingering in some Duteh dorps (villages). That would take time. Rhodesia, it was hoped, would come into the Union. This would all add to the strength sf he British position in Africa. Speaking of the industrial situation in Africa, Mr. Cran said that labor troubles in Cape Colony were not acute. "In fact, we got along pretty well until Australian workers came. Then trouble began." In the building trade all skilled work was done by white men, except plastering and painting. These were done by colored men. Wages were for both alike, 12s Gd to IBs and 17s a day for n -IS-honr week. Builders' laborers (colored men) were paid £3 to £5 a week. .'le was a large employer of such labor. If was of a satisfactory character. The colored people could and did live at a much cheaper rate than the white. They were not, however, permitted by the authorities to live in the squalid and overcrowded conditions that they fofmcrly lived in. The white and colored people did not. mix socially. Malays in some cases made a very .good thing out of it with plural wives. These women were all good workers, did all the laundry work of the place, and brought a lot of money into the house to supplement whatever the husband earned.