THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1907. INDIANS IN NATAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8549, 5 October 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1907. INDIANS IN NATAL.

While the Transvaal is proceeding to enforce the registration of Asiatics resident within her .borders, Natal is becoming increasingly alarmed at the number of Indian coolies who havp been imported under a system of indenture, and have been allowed to remain in the colony on the expiration of their contracts. The interests of all the Europeans in Natal are far from being alike n this matter. The farming and sugar-growing industries are largely dependent on cheap coolie labour, and yet vast numbers of the citizens regard with giowing anxiely the increase in the number of Indian immigrants, few of whom avail themselves of the opportunity of a free return passage home on the conclusion of • their indentures. Mr Haggar recently introduced a Bill into the Natal Legislative Assembly for the abolition of Indian immigration, but fearing the effects of such a drastic step," the House declined to accept the proposal. Instead, with the approval of the Government, it adopted a resolution requesting the Executive, first, to enter into negotiations with the Imperial and Indian Governments with the object of repatriating indentured Indians on the expiry of their term of service; and, secondly, to amend the various laws affecting Indians at present in the colony, with a view to encourage their employment in the labour market, thus making less necessary further importations. The Natal Mercury states with regard to this resolution that its outcome will probably be the commission of a member of the Ministry or some Government official to proceed to India to discuss ways and means with the authorities there. "The impression is general," the Mercury adds, "that if Mr Moor remains in office, definite action wi'l be taken to deal with the question of Asiatics and to check the growth of the Indian population in Natal. As to this it is generally understood that the Natal and Transvaal Governments have established a concordat and that they will work in sympathy with the mutual object of attaining a practical solution of the problem." '