Military Colonists in South Africa.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 96, 16 January 1900, Page 3

Military Colon ists in South Africa.

What steps will Britain take to ensure tranquillity m South Africa when the war is over ? In view of the bitter and enduring hate on the pa-t of the Boers, the numerical strength of the Capo Dutch, and the opportunities of intrigue with European power*-?, this question will call for a great deal of discussion from British statesmen at, it is honed, no very distant dat 9. In the first place, when the war is concluded, about 30,001) men who will be sent from South Africa, will at once drop out of the amy and enter the Eeserve as cither reservists or time-expired men. It is thought in some quarters that the Imperial authorities, co-opera-ting with the colonial authorities, bh->uld take advantage of this fact to create a large body of military colonists. To do this they would j have to make oilers to the soldiers of so tempting a nature that a large number of them would remain as colonists in South Africa rather than return to their former employment. The next question is. What kind of an offer could the Imperial Government make ? If the idea were carried out, heavy transport expenses, amounting probably to £20 per man would be saved. In many parts of the country, mining and other companies own large areas of land, of which they do not use the surface, but need only the mineral rights. Provided the mineral rights were retained, these land-owners . would probably be quite willing to allow their land "to be used for agricultural purposes ; and there wo aid probably be a great deal of Crown land available, even if none at present in the hands of the rebel Dutch were confiscated. The proposal is that each military colonist who remains in tb.B country should be granted a bonus of from £20 to £40 and a piece of some of the best land available for agricultural purposes. Besides this, the Government will have an enormous quantity of stores, horses, mules, oarvs, tents, sheds, and » variety o f

other useful fchiriga, from traction •] engines to tarpaulins, which, either i because they aro too heavy, or are dlighfcly damaged, will be deeinoct not worth taking Home. It is suggested bhab these should be given to Dhe colonists, who, in this way, would have something to live upon dusing the first year or two. If the Imperial Government could rely upon a force of, say, 10,009 Rost:*'\ists and a local volunteer force of about 20,000 man, the necessity £gi a largo permanent army in South Africa would bo avoided.