T H E O U TSP AN , M ay 8, 1931 15

Some Remarkable Stories Of

“ The old man carried his burden up the iron ladder placed for the convenience o f bathers."

Readers of “The Outspan” relate instances of kindnesses repaid a hundredfold — and other instances barely given recognition

In a recent issue o f “ The Outspan” there appeared an article entitled “ Some Thoughts On Gratitude,” by Mr H. R. Cocking, in which he w ro te : “ Time a fter time during a thirty years ’ residence in South A frica , men, and women too, have said to m e: ‘Oh! I ’ve cut it out, people don’ t appreciate what is done fo r them.’ ” Readers o f “ The Outspan” w ere invited to relate the most rem ark­able instances of gratitude or ingratitude that they had experienced and below are published a

few o f the replies.

A Native C hiefs QratitudeJ N the year 1875 we went to live up-country in

Natal, where the nearest White neighbour was some ten miles away. But there were many Native kraals around and in the largest o f them there lived a Native minor chief, known as a thief, suspected o f w itchcraft, and even murder.

My mother was skilled in the use o f simple remedies and the Natives soon found this out and would bring various sufferers to find relief at her ready hands. One day the head-wife o f the chief brought her first-born son, a little boy o f about four years o f age, who had fallen into a big fire and had been severely burned pretty well all over his body. He was a gruesome sight o f festering matter and apparently a hopeless case.

M y mother took him in hand, put him in an outside room, cleaned him with warm water and disinfectants, and doused him with carbolic oil.

( Illustrated fo r “ The Outspan” by A . E. M ason).

!III1II!IIIIIIIIIIIII!!IIIIIIIIIIIIIII!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!III!IIIII1!IIIIII1IIIIIII!III!1IIIIII!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1IIIIIIIIIIIII1II!II

Then she covered him with muslin and told J’ie Native mother to call up her female relatives in relays and keep the muslin wet with carbolic oil -—night and day.

A fter weeks o f care the boy recovered, and then the father came to our house to express his thanks. “ Not only do I speak, but I will show you how thankful I am,” he said. And he did! In more ways than I can tell in so short a letter he proved his thanks.

When the Zulu war came he had watchers on the fa r hills and knew how things were going all the time. Then came the Isar.dhlwana panic and this chief came to my father and asked Him if he was going away like all the other W hite folk. When told we were staying on he said: “ That is good. I will know in plenty o f time if the Zulus are coming this w ay; and if they do I will bring my people past here and take you all with us, and you shall come to no harm.”

Every day he sent us a report from his watchers, and he placed guards over our cattle so that no wandering Native might steal any.

During the whole o f the time we lived in that district we had boys to work, even when others could not get labour, and, so long as he lived, the chief continued to express gratitude in deeds o f kindness to us.— “ B .W .,” Durban.

She Demanded a Shilling ChangeX l/'H E N last in England I witnessed a most

deplorable instance o f ingratitude. It was a stormy day on the coast and with others I stood at the end o f a harbour jetty admiring the angry waves. Suddenly, to everyone’s horror, a little boy o f about four years slipped under the railirgs and fell into the water. Owing to the weather no one was bathing that day, so the child was in real danger, until an elderly fisherman dived in and grasped the choking little victim.

The old man carried his burden up the iron ladder placed for the convenience of bathers and delivered the little boy to the mother, who, after emitting a few screams, had regained her calm on seeing her child so ably rescued. She ap­proached the dripping rescuer and opening her opulent-looking handbag handed the man a two- shilling piece— and demanded a shilling change! A winter wind blew bitingly, but its breath was surely not so unkind as that dame’s ingratitude.

Was she utterly mean or had she no sense of proportion that she should value a human life and an act o f bravery at a shilling? Presently she marched off the soaked, shivering child, while she wrapped herself in a voluminous fur coat.

The causes o f ingratitude are several— forget­fulness, thoughtlessness, meanness, false pride, and even fear. Very many years ago a girl con­fided to me her tragic secret, which, fo r the sake o f the child, I vowed to keep forever to myself.

Gratitude and Ingratitude'"•'M5Sy' 'v' ' $ v ' ■ '■’o ■'V ' ^

. ;. ’ ' - |

MU

. '■ ' “r . ‘ i

T H E Q U T S P A N

"X o t only do 1 speak, but I ivill show you how thankful 1 am.”

Long- after I met the girl again elsewhere, and although I had no intention or reason to break my promise, fear evidently prompted her to fore­stall me in case I should speak. She deliberately set about making me out a natural and habitual liar, and the local women, being what they were, swallowed the fiction. Such was her return for my consideration.

Is there any gratitude like that, o f an animal? Give a dog a bone and a friendly pat and he becomes your grateful friend for life. I knew a little terrier who fought to ihe death— his own death— with a big hound which had attacked his beloved master’s little girl. And even as he died he feebly wagged his tail as i f to say “ thank you” for blessings received, never thinking of the gratitude due to him for the great blessing of a life saved which he had just conferred.— “ K.L.S.,” South-W est A frica.

He Shared His Food and ClothesA F E W months ago I read in a newspaper a

short paragraph to the effect that a young tram conductor, upon returning to its rightful owner a handbag he had found which contained a wad o f banknotes, expensive jewellery and other personal effects, was rewarded with two oranges! But that is not an exceptional case.

When I was eleven years o f age my uncle, w'ith whom I was then staying, signed an accom­modation bill for a friend, whom we will call Mr A. The latter gentleman having received the full benefit o f the monies raised by means o f this bill would, it was understood, make due provision for the payment o f same when it fell due. But Mr A failed to meet the bill, and my uncle, having signed, was compelled to pay. Every effort to find this gentleman failed, for he had, so it ap­peared, fled the country.

Three years after the event Mr A inherited a very large sum of money through the death o f a relative, and returned to our town. Today he passes us in his motor car and his w ife and

children look down upon us with disdain, for we are only labourers, toilers, workers, and they are millionaires! Mr A has never repaid, nor has he ever offered to repay to my uncle one penny of the money due on that bill. On the contrary, when my uncle had occasion some short time ago to approach Mr A, his one-time friend, for a little assistance, he was promptly and curtly refused!

It is well to remember, however, that all people are not alike. In striking contrast to the above let me tell the true story o f Ben and Jack, two young men who worked in the same place of business and shared the same apartments— two very small rooms on the fourth and top floor o f an ancient building. Through ill fortune, how­ever, Jack lost his position and despite every effort was unsuccessful in finding fresh employ­ment.

His supply o f money was fast running out, but Ben refused to let him leave the apartment, and even when Jack’s money had completely dwindled away Ben, who did not earn too large a salary himself, shared with Jack his food, his drink, his pleasures and his joys, even lending him his own clothes. This state of affairs continued for about four months, but at last came a change for the better. An offer to go overseas to work in a factory owned by a relative— who advanced the necessary cash for the voyage— was received by Jack, and he accepted with open arms. So he departed, promising to write to Ben each week and keep him informed o f his fortunes.

Nine years have elapsed since Jack went over­seas, but he has never forgotten. Every penny

AW A R D S TO RE AD ERS.T w o prizes o f £2 2s. each fo r the best letters o f about 400

w ords on the above sub ject have been aw arded t o : —“ K.L.S.,” South-West A frica , and “ X .,”

Transvaal.A p a rt from the prize aw ards, all articles published in con ­nection w ith com petitions are paid fo r at the usual rates.

he could save was put away to repay Ben, with­out whose kindly help and consideration he would certainly have starved. Every week Ben received a letter and even today Jack, who has now reached the topmost rung o f the ladder o f success, still writes and still remembers— and Ben’s account in the bank has swelled considerably with the money Jack has deposited to his credit.

Surely it must gladden our hearts to know that there are people who are grateful and who re­member. It inspires us with the wish to help others who are unable to help themselves, not because o f any desire for later reward, but be­cause o f their appreciation and gratitude. In­deed it is because so many people forget or omit to say “ I thank you” that benevolence is fast dying out, when many a time the use o f those three simple words would give to the helper all the reward he desires.— “ X .,” Transvaal.

Maria’s Sense O f Qratitudeoften we hear careless remarks to the

effect that Native and Coloured servants know no gratitude. My experience is different.

During the dreadful influenza epidemic of 1918 we had a Native servant from the country. She was a good girl and we were very upset when she went down with ’flu. My mother showed no fear of infection (although some o f us admitted to being scared o f it) and nursed her faithfully and kindly and she eventually recovered. Later on she was sent for to go back home and nurse a sick mother, and we heard no more o f her for a while.

Ten years later my mother was stricken with a desperate illness which ended in chronic in­validism. She needed constant attention and care and it was not easy to get a servant to remain with us— they were nervous and didn’t like to be so tied down to one job.

One day M aria, our old girl, amazed us by appearing smilingly at the back door. We were

( Continued on page 57)

SOME REMARKABLE STORIES OF GRATITUDE AN D INGRATITUDE — Continued from pdge 17

very surprised to see her after all those years. It appeared that another girl from her district was working near by. She had written and told M aria how sick the “ old missus” was and Maria had at once borrowed her fare down from the Eastern Province to come and nurse her.

When I told her that it would be a harder place now and that my mother needed lots of attention she answ ered: “ Ach, then, but didn’t the ‘ole missus’ nurse me when I was very sick and make me well again? O f course I stay so long as she need me.”

It was gratitude that we never expected, but was deeply appreciated. M aria as assistant nurse was worth her weight in gold, for the patient liked her and her black, happy face was a jo y to see. She stayed as long as we needed her and then returned to the Eastern Province.

This was real gratitude from which we might well take a lesson ourselves.— “ I .E ." Cape Town.

She Refused Payment for Her ServicesT ° say that gratitude is dead in South A frica

is going fa r from the truth. No doubt there are many who look for assistance and when re­ceiving it take it for granted that they are fu lly entitled to it, but we cannot condemn the whole o f South A frica on the experiences o f a few.

I know o f a case where a nurse was given financial assistance when she was in distress, and though it was about two years later before she had the chance to show her gratitude, she did not fail.

Her benefactor was taken seriously ill and it was necessary to have a nurse in attendance to administer injections, etc., and she volunteered to attend, although at the time she was extremely busy, for she had district cases, also patients in her own maternity home, but though she was called out at all hours during the day and night, she always arrived with a smile, with no signs at all o f the weariness that she must have felt.

It was just wonderful that she could carry on with her duties, fo r the period o f the illness lasted for nearly two months, but she was there to the finish and helped even after death took place, for , unfortunately, the case was practically hopeless.

For all her services she refused payment, for she was genuinely .grateful fo r the assistance that had been given her when she needed it, and I can say with assurance that Attuld an occasion arise those who have been left behind will not be found wanting, for their gratitude cannot be expressed by words alone.— “ G rateful,” Trans­vaal.

“ Our Friendship W a s To Be Severed”jy£R COOKING’S article on “Gratitude” makes

one pause to think. Do we not more often than otherwise accept benevolence without a thought o f showing gratitude? And all through sheer carelessness! But there are many cases o f the reverse.

This article calls to my mind the gratitude shown me by a heroic friend. We met at school when still little. Mae, as I shall call her for the present, had been sent to boarding-school when only seven. It was several years, however, be­fore we became fast friends. Being a rather strange, erratic girl, she did not make friends quickly. I grew to understand her in time and we founded a true friendship.

A t the age o f fifteen she contracted an in­curable disease and her friends began to dwindle. Regardless o f the terrible disease, I went to spend

a holiday with Mae and tried to cheer her while she lay on her back day after day.

Then she was sent away to a sanatorium. I wrote long letters every week and did my best to help her !n her sorry plight. She wrote loving letters back and declared she would give up the effort to live i f she lost my friendship. W e loved each other deeply. A fter a year at the sana­torium she was sent home— incurable. Then she spent six weeks in my home. She was taken very ill and it fell to my lot to nurse her and be with her day and night. A fter recovering slightly Mae returned home.

The parting was pitiful. She seemed to have made up her mind that she would never see me again, although I promised to go to her as soon as possible. Within the week following her de­parture I received a letter. She thanked me for all I had done—-made a lot o f the little I had attempted.

Then came the startling announcement— our friendship was to be severed entirely! I was to fo rget her. Any letter she received from me she would burn, she said. W hile with me she evidently imagined that she hindered my social life. She could do absolutely nothing for me, while she accepted much. So she did the one thing she was able to do. She made a great sacrifice, thinking thereby to free me o f pain and suffering on her account. Was this not indeed the finest example o f gratitude and love?

This occurred fifteen months ago and even her own mother cannot understand our separation.I have made every effort to renew our friend­ship, but it is o f no avail.— “ M .P.,” Cape Province.

A W om an Stowaway’s TrickJ W AS on a liner some years ago when

a stowaway— a middle-aged woman— was found nearly two days out from Southampton. She was apparently in poor circuifistances and pleaded that her husband was in South A frica , that she w’ ished to join him but could not raise the money to pay her fare. The Captain threatened to put her off at Madeira and to send her back to England, but a clergyman interested himself on her behalf and by means o f a collection among the passengers managed to get sufficient to pay her passage in the third-class to Cape Town.

Did the woman appreciate what was done for her?- No-J Ska -g r iimhlgd—hepaiise sJip_was_put_

A South A fr ica n Poem .

IllusionBy M a r t i n K . H i n d .

The pale dawn still breaks fairy-hued,But strangely cold its beauty seem s;

The so^ig o f birds is now subdued;No longer dancing sunlight gleams

Through ev ’r-y blossom-burden’d tree And silvers all the poplar leaves,

N or with its cunning filigreeGold patterns in the garden weaves.

The star-jew ell’d nights that once I knew( Those turquoise nights with jasmine breath!)

Oh! they are now o f sombre hue And whisper only things of Death.

But as o f old the roses blowThough somehow they have lost their scen t:

Enchantment vanished long ago—You took it with you when you ivent.

Johannesburg;

in third-class quarters— it was found later that she had booked her luggage to the boat second- class— and once past Madeira and all possibility o f her being put ashore turned up on deck in some beautiful clothing. In fact she was fa r better dressed than some o f the passengers who had paid their own fare and contributed towards paying hers.

A friend o f mine, sorry for two young women whose boarding-house accommodation was ob­viously not o f the best, gave them a general in­vitation to “ spend an evening with me whenever you feel like it.” The acquaintanceship ripened, till eventually they visited my friend every night, she making them welcome, although sometimes at great inconvenience to herself. The friendship came to a sudden end on the discovery that one o f the women was carrying on anything but a mild flirtation with the husband.

My husband was once bitten to the tune of nearly £200, and this in our engagement days when he was saving up to get a home together. Ever sympathetic he was asked to help a man badly in need o f the above amount who promised to pay it back in six- months’ time. The man used the money, said he wras grateful, but when pressed fo r payment promptly went bankrupt.

One does occasionally meet with thankfulness and appreciation as, for instance, in the case of a very old friend— lonely in her old age— whom I sometimes invite to spend a day with me just to break the monotony o f her existence. She never comes without bringing a cake, cooked meat, or something similar. I would rather she did not, but nevertheless I appreciate the thought that lies behind her g ift, while it goes to show that the old soul is grateful for the little I am able to do for her.

It is useless to deny that we seldom meet with the gratitude and appreciation we deserve, but on the other hand it would be folly to become em­bittered and to adopt a “ don’t care what happens to my neighbour” sort o f attitude on that account. — ' Fr e e State.

I W a s Too Thunderstruck^ H E most glaring case o f ingratitude to come

my way occurred several years ago when my children were small. I had a neighbour who was a constant and insistent borrower. In this par­ticular Instance we were comfortable and settled and asleep one night well after midnight when we were roused by the lady in question.

Had I any brandy in the house as her daughter was in terrible pain, and would I come and see what I could do for her was the request.

I went from my warm bed armed with remedies likely to be o f use, including the best part o f a bottle o f brandy. A fter trying to help the girl unsuccessfully, I suggested that the doctor should be called and this meant that 1 had to walk some distance to a call-box. The doctor could not come out but he suggested a remedy obtainable at the chemist, which entailed a further jaunt in the keen wintry air. A fter waiting to see that the girl was in a more comfortable state I went home once again to my bed and my small son.

Imagine my surprise some days later when the neighbours appeared with a bottle o f methylated spirits saying that as they were teetotallers they did not like to try the brandy and as they knew I used a spirit stove to heat my baby’s food the spirit would be of use to me.

I was too thunderstruck to do anything, but very meekly accepted the proffered bottle with a whispered “ yes.” Can you beat this?— “ V.R.M .," Johannesburg.

A PROBLEM T H A T IS CO M M ON TO AMERICA A N D SOUTH AFRICA — Continued from page 9

5th provided only for the enumeration o f one- and-a-half million Europeans, and made no pro­vision for the five million Natives.

Another American experience o f value relates to the attitude towards racial differences. South A frica need not have any fear for racial purity

I in the sound development o f the Native people. Respect for personality o f the Natives, and self- respect by the Natives, can only result in the friendly existence o f the two races living side by side in their own way. Racial intermixture and

c miscegenation have occurred in America when slavery and oppression were the rule. The free-

■dom and the progress o f the Negro have prac­tica lly eliminated intermixture o f blood. While differences do exist and are justifiable, so long as they are made the basis o f mutual respect, there are also identities o f interests between the races. These identities refer to such vital con­ditions as health, economic welfare and morality. I f there be disease or immorality among Natives, it will undoubtedly have its reactions on the White people.

And it is undoubtedly true that education is the most effective means o f developing sound race relations. Not education o f the merely factual type, but education that is related to the health, economic w elfare, fam ily life and recreation. If the Native people can be taught to be useful, self- respecting members o f society, they will be pre­pared to take their share in the national pi'O- gress. I f the Europeans can be similarly de­veloped, together with respect for the capacities and attainments o f the Natives, the two races will work together for the common good.

The final and most convincing experience of America is that co-operation is fa r more effective than conflict and w arfare in securing sound inter­racial relations. Whatever war has won for humanity, it has involved tremendous costs. Every war memorial is a testimony to the terrific price paid for whatever gains have been achieved.'The trend o f the world is at present strongly in the direction o f the method o f conference and co­operation, beginning with the leading nations and

extending to the uttermost parts o f the world. W e are beginning to learn that we can secure progress through exchanges o f ideas. The Old Testament idea o f a tooth for a tooth is gradually being supplanted by the New Testament method o f peaceful penetration. The inter-racial com­mittees in America have avoided many a bloody riot through the reasonable exchange o f views between Black and White. They are gradually turning the minds o f the Negro from a sense of injustice and injury to an active interest in the improvements of local conditions. These com­mittees have m et to discuss subjects o f health, economic welfare, education and healthy re­creation. The concentration o f both W hite and Black people on local improvements o f a prac­tical character has brought about mutual peace and confidence.

In general agitators may have their value on some occasions, but the way o f permanent peace and prosperity usually lies along friendly co­operation o f neighbours, both European and Native, on the common tasks o f the day.

IWt K * 2 -

rt1H3 STAR*, JCHANKSSBURG, Tuesday, 12 May, 1931.

page 13.

READERS’ VIEWST H E N E W S W A Z I L A N D A N D

T H E O L D

To the Editor o f The Star Sir,—As an ancient Swazilander and

constant reader o f The Star I beg to thank you and your correspondent for the series o f articles Just concluded in your paper. X am glad they are finished and unlikely to come into ini- mediate effect. No doubt we shall always have dreamers and world re­formers and incidentally social up­heavals with depressions, to a great extent the result o f puny man’s at­tempt to force the pace. Swaziland and the Swazi are progressing nicely and according to plan, nature’s plan.

In 50 years quite a lot o f your correspondent’s ideas will be accom­plished facts, but when he talks of prohibiting recruiting as a means of Keeping the native at home and thus increasing production he shows a lamentable ignorance of the raw native. I f a woman did produce more grain her male relation would promptly drink what he had not already sold to the local store for the purchase of gewgaws and other rubbish. But tne young ones are coming on and may be different. Granting the sup­position that a great and sudden energy could be Imposed on the nation and export became possible, where, pray, can we export? To the Union against freight cost? “ Coals to New­castle” ? To Europe on a subsidy? For local consumption perhaps? Scrub cattle to Italy? We could not hold that.

Before the native or even the whites can build up better herds they must be educated in the rearing o f them and it takes time. All the opinions of your correspondent have been before the public and the Administration for years and progress, although slow, has been sure and natural. Inequality of taxation is on your correspondent’s figures more apparent than real when you consider the cost of administra­tion as between white and native. Nearly the whole expenditure on civil service is for the native and directly to his advantage. Regarding the item against white education it is a poor offset to police expenditure almost en­tirely caused by the native and no notice has been taken of the help and consideration given to the many mis­sions throughout the territory for the native. Rich in minerals are we? Coal, proximity to the sea? Quite. Go find them and dredge the Usutu so that the big ships on their lawful occasions may sail right up. Pray tell me, when all these Immediately necessary reforms suddenly become facts, where we may find the white settler to tax. Theorists like your correspondent when they have their way are the world’s dis- organisers, producers o f depressions, upsetters of the balance and producers of conditions over which they lose con­trol. Let your correspondent study the Five-Year Plan In Russia. There he may find scope for his undoubted talents and thev have need. Leave Swaziland and the Swazi to the Swazi and his friends. We are coming on fine: even if a few o f us without in­come escape the income tax we have other taxes quite sufficient if indirect.

* GO STEADY.Bremersdorp.

\Y , M A Y 13,

N E W S I

“MEDICINE” TO < BRING W ORK „

l CREDULOUS EUROPEAN ; AT BRAKPAX

The strange tale o f a European’s , credulity in believing that native * medicine could bring him employment was related in the Brakpan Court yesterday, when a native, Sam Esram, appeared before Mr. Barnard on a charge of practising witchcraft for gain.

Andries Cornelius Oosthuizen, of Gladstone Avenue, said that on April 24 he had been to a shaft on State ! Mines to try to get work, and when he was returning he saw the native Sam sitting at the edge of a planta­tion with bottles of medicine before him on a piece of cloth.

"I asked the native if he could throw the bones," continued Oost­huizen. "He said he could not, but asked me what I would like to know.I said I wanted to know if I could

i not get, work on the mines. He re­plied that he could give me medicines, and if I used them I would get work within a few days. The price of the medicine was £1. I said that 1 wanted to think it over, but would meet him at the same spot in the afternoon.

"When I came back, bringing with me a friend, I asked the native if he was sure the medicine would bring me

‘ work He said yes, these were things they did every day, and if X did not get work in three days I could get my £1 back I took the medicine— a bottle of powder and a bottle of oint­ment—and used them at home. The native said that I must throw the powdei in the bath every night and smear the ointment on my face. X did not get work, and on three occa­sions I went to the plantation to find the man. but without success.”

M IGHT AS WELL TRY.Oosthuizen said that he did not

believe very firmly that the medicines would bring him work, but thought that he might as well try them, espe­cially as he would get his money back if they were not successful. He believed in bone throwing

Adolf J. L. Welthagen, Oosthuizen’s friend, said that he hardly believed in the work-producing potency of the medicine, but he thought that Oost­huizen should take the chance, as he had heard of a man who had consulted a native in similar fashion and had obtained work a few days afterwards.

The magistrate said that if the accused had dealt with an ignorant native he would have been sent to prison, but as the complainant was a European the sentence would be one month’s imprisonment suspended for two years.

N A T I V E L A B O U R O N T H EM I N E S

■ f ------------------

To the Editor o f The StarSir,—In your issue o f May 27 Mr. A.

S. Vil-Nkomo writes to say that I gave ; unfounded evidence to the Native Eco­nomic Commission. Your correspon­dent has very wisely particularised his compound—City Deep. Even there he does not say what kind of breakfast is given to natives who get up at 3 o ’clock in the morning and return very late in the evening. He does not say whether in the City Deep there are not loafer catchers, who must see to it that the native labourer does not change his boss so long as he is under contract. He fails to say whether a native in the City Deep has a choice o f food. I want.to tell Mr. Nkomo that what is : the policy o f the Chamber of Mines is i never put into practice in the com- <i pounds. If it was, such things .would not happen.

He asks me what are the indunas for, a the compound manager and the in- j spector of natives. >

The induna is there to carry out the j instructions o f the compound manager. ■ In some cases the work of the induna f is full of corruption. They are big I moneylenders and business men with- J out licences, and no native affairs in- j spector will help natives. The com- ! pound manager’s work is to see that ; all boys in the compounds go to work, i and in their offices have become un- ! crowned kings.

I want to point out in conclusion: 1 that when an educated native is per-j suaded to deal with the life of natives I in the compounds he must think very seriously indeed. Until those who claim to be educated come out and tell the facts as they are, they will remain nothing but traitors to their own race. Africa will always own them with shamefulness. If any native did not see the authenticity of my statement he had a perfect right to go and refute it before the Commis- 1 sion so that his evidence should be 1 recorded in their minutes for future j generations. I personally defy anyone's ; challenge about a native’s life in the j compound. I said much more than : was reported in the Press, and I can ’ quote chapter and verse if I am called j upon to do so.

I went further and said that edu- 1 cated native clerks are in a false posi- < tion. They are suspected by European compound managers, and they are suspected by their own native people in comoounds. In many cases they are used as tools for the oppression of unfortunate native men.

ALLISON W. G. CHAMPION.

NATIVE SERVANTS

StAND TENANTS

O^C/

ALLEGED CONDITIONS IN CAPE PROVINCE

J. J. Magade, Provincial Secretary, Ind. I.C.U.

The life o f the natives in the Ber­lin area, Cape Province, is rapidly be­coming one of modern slavery. They live there in two different ways. First, they are accepted as tenants, and secondly as servants. 1 would like to deal with the tenants first.

When a native is accepted at Berlin as a tenant, ne is told to build a hut for himself. The native agrees whole­heartedly, but as soon as the hut is finished he is told to pay rent every month. This rent is from 5s. to 10s. a month. Some tenants are employed to do work for which they are paid a meagre pittance running from 5s. to 10s a month. If the native has a number o f children and some cattle, the children are ordered by the farmer to work for their living or for the cattle kept on the farm. Should they refuse the farmer dismisses them in­stantly from his farm. Thus these children are away from their parents, and exposed to all kinds o f mischie­vous influences without any parental control. Even if they agree to work, what encouragement do they get, Since they receive no wages? Many of these children miss their opportunities of obtaining education through this treatment,

The so-called servants are employed on the lines that they are given half an acre, to plough, and their living right through the year depends upon that. Many receive no monetarv wages Fancy a man or women to toil everj day for 365 days—Sundays and holidays—without pay, except the use of a small piece o f land. The wages for those lucky enough to get them run from 5s. to 10s. a month. The cattle o f these people are milked and inspanned by the farmers just as they please The huts in which they live are not worth keeping in a village of civilised people. They are danger­ous to health. The huts are built by the natives themselves, and when any leave the place the employer or farmer orders the tenant or servant to forfeit a month’s wage, and in that

j way the hut becomes the property of j the farmer. These huts are often sold for 5s or 10s.

I Recently the Independent I.C.U. for­warded an application on behalf of these natives to the Native Commis­sioner at Kinewilliamstown, for a loca­tion under the Urban Areas Act of 1923 The Native Commissioner, as a result, sent a number o f forms to each fanner or employer to be filled in. Tills action aroused the anger of the European residents. Many re­ports have reached our offices inform­ing us that they are beinsr maltreated worse than before these paners arrived. Many natives have been terrorised into denvinsr that tbev ever instructed the Tndeoendent I.C.U. to send this a.nolication, and even to deny that they are members o f the organisation. A location for them is an indisnensable necp«sitv. and it is to be honed that the authorities will take immediate action.

KtI4s0Sif;

Ji01

pi pi tt tl di ir o< h bt N a K

STATE D U TY T O N ATIVESI Professor Swellengrebel points out

that it is the bounden duty of the Government to promote by any means in its power the material ben;fits of the native population. “ There seems to exist a different view among the Native Affairs Department,” he says, “ as evidenced by the statement: ‘ It is the policy of the Department not to sanction any further expenditure on medical services from the Native De­velopment Account intended to promote the material benefits o f native com­munities.’

“The absurdity ofthis statement will ; become even more apparent by adding

that the main source o f income of the particular native community to which this statement refers is ihe wages of the male adults going to work else­where for periods of six months. These wages have been considerably reduced owing to an epidemic of malaria, and the - further expenditure o f medical services ’ was intended to prevent similar epidemics in future.’’

With regard to the position in the j endemic native malaria areas, Professor I Swellengrebel states that adult? in the ] majority of cases shake off the effects ; of the infantile fever and on *he whole 1 appear to enjoy good health. They are j excellent workers. The children, though

heavily infected, do not suffer nearly I as much as European and Indiani Continued at foot of next column

children, and the mortality among them appears to be low. The adults when working in fever areas suffer from malaria occasionally, but they often get well again without any specific treatment. Less quinine than is necessary In the case of a European will set them right in a vet y short time. “ I am not at all sure that the same results would be obtained if the process of immunisation were disturbed by distributing quinine on a large scale among such a population, and I actu­ally deem this inadvisable unless one is prepared to go the full length of a thorough campaign o f malaria eradica­tion in the locations with a high malaria endemicity,” he declares.

“ These natives are no danger to / Europeans unless the latter live among them or unless -the natives emigrate with their whole family to E uropean settlements, where malaria transmission is possible. Importation of adult males from such endemic areas offers no danger to the community where they go to work.”

'-‘■WO

-

HANNESBURG, TRAXJ

>’ VIEWS

W A R D E R S A N D C O N V I C T S

PR OFESSOR F R A N K E L ’S ? PRO T ES T

To the Editor of The Star

reSu ;.~ n !10̂ me t0 protest against the ertam nf convicts at the hands oi f tile warders who, fornonths past, have been supervising ^® “ aKln8 Jl Playing grounds in the -government school bordering on Em jure Koad and Jan Smute Avenue

I pass along Empire Road severaj -unes daijy, and I have, therefore together with the boys playing gamesfull hpn»fiPlt? )uring grounds, had the rpit benefit 0 lnstfuction in the cor rect demeanour of white men in exer- cismg the authority entrusted to themterest! examples wlu be o{ general in

1 For some weeks, part o f the task D consisted in levelling

1 v n r f S i , 51̂ 5 an emt>ankment The ' vinft m * 1 of llnir‘g the con and iJJ?, On, 1̂op of the embankment

k g m levei the ground by stretching as far down as they couldobtainihiUSe? ’ ent' t0 certain warders, i i obtainable from this form of labourorganisation consisted in pushing a

r ,m a n over fhe top and *0X u i n f tor ' ArP every time he reappeared.

everv d a ^ h if f l fSk’ that is rePeated ̂ y , y tJie warders, is to giveUD fm nr i the convicts should line up for or after the ration hour orgivim th0PT g t!?me The ^ertiun in SuntPr °5<ders naturally needs its f f l S whlch consists Inauiethf tn _ the convicts (standing hoJ u / ° ws) with whins or the baton handles thereof Each convictM V S c k e / 2 “ day\ ?S apparentlyr siinnnL u- some kind on which r e g t K f ™ conduct marks are

e originality o f the is worth11 Wty c?. these are'given out thicw^ntr^ watching. it consists tn everv r iir .^ f tlc^ets aboi't in any and or ^umhpr ^ then callin? the nam ̂kickine him a. . f 0nvict and then r „ n L h,lm' or hitting him as hardticket up. aS St0° PS t0 pick his_ f it t in g at the convicts with thrMnUnu"riivathn! f0r no reason ?oes on 1 wav o f i 3Ut 11 ls rathrr a mild • r o f Th^ 7r!uS 0 n e s l a c k o f s e I f C O '1 ’

y : U ram iT ft ™IIm'7nE’ method Is better 1 a tro°P of con j

e field nnT T h 'n do,,hlp n,p across th< j one or n L th~n Proceeding to chasff h p i r h a r f m v t r a m n 1n e o r

o nr t-rinnin® them up.r t r ur t i ns f h l ^ " r snonsib,P for con convict iJ£ Dlav,nsr fipIHs with ' trolled m u^Urh S° excPllentlv con j lated onThf,* sincerely congrar.u : no i t t to , aTeat v‘sion: for surelv w uns o ' ethamnIC can hp * iven to the the I f . ' . inherent superiority of ■'W X™ * « * " when engaged in see I filled justice is done and duty ful ]

S. HERPERT FRANKEL.

are fn01?h s‘alnpc* that their actio™ f p e r h a n ^ et / r ^ Uh t 0 f r o u s h horse D lav their ISr,hten the monotony ofor v i c i ^ V o t i t s n0^ f t h e ° a r e I,t wo f ” a d\vLrderathit: ‘S n° part of the dut' he m v h i ,h0we! f r, yc,une or bore.trick? a t tho indulee in scboolbc at the expense of convicts.!

EDUCATION FOR THE NATIVE

AN O.F.S. FARMER’S .VIEWPOINT

To the E d ito r o f The S ta r

Sir,—Wliere public opinion Is being I directed principally to the social andeconomic conditions of the native of >' our country. I wish to point out the necessity of a sound education together with the influence it will have on theEuropean population The native already receives education, the cost of which Is defrayed out of taxe* paid by himself. The belief (hat the native la educated at the expense of the Euro pean Is totally unfounded, but If It were so it is still, however, our duty ! as a white race, and more especially o f ! un who know the native, to influence Ills education in the proper direction. |

The native In European attire, pinch : lng boots, small straw hat, with one quarter o f a cigarette and a walking stick. Is a menace to the community. I for be Is. taken by the public as an ' example of the educated native, which he decidedly Is not. The result is that I be is despised by the white man. and i looked upon as an alien by his own I people. These so-called “ educated " | natives are poor examples. They have j grown up in an objectionable com­munity, picked up a few vulgar phrases ; through a medium of a language which | is foreign to them, which they have i been made to believe Is the only cur­rent language of civilised communities, and have been taught all sorts of things quite out or character with their very nature. Others, again, have had very scanty education, and the little they have had is bo imbued with the atmosphere of equality that every sense of esteem for the European as a i superior race has disappeared, and they | have also lost their national pride in ! their endeavour to bccomc black "white men.”

PSYCHOLOGY OF LANGUAGE, jI am not only objecting to the sort

of education, but also to the ways it is done and the methods employed. Here we .-distinctly have an example of dis­cord created between the blacks and one section of the European popula­tion, and of distrust of the white man > generally. In the past several of the Institutions for native education have omitted to teach the native both the I official languages. The result Is thai j the native got the impression that the , language of the older population Is an ; inferior language, and this resulted again in the idea that that part of the population is an Inferior population, or. more correctly, an inferior race. All educationists are agreed that the child thinks through the medium he Is educated in. and where the spirit of [ the native school is onti-Afrikaans t naturally r feeling of distrust Is c created and the first seeds of discord , are sown.

The way to remedy this is to leach the native both the official languages. t but not before he has received a , thorough training In his own. It is a | bit of an anomaly that the white man can demand education through the medium of the mother tongue while the native is excluded from this right If this right is given him, and, if from the stages that the other tongue Is being taught, both official languages are taught with Impartiality. both , languages will be on an equal footing, and there will be no room for dis- j respect Tor one of them. and. con- i sequently, no room for distrust and dis ■ cord.

Life-long experience o f the native races together with the knowledge of ‘ two o f the most important Bantu •< languages has taught me that the only <way to understand the native is to , f speak his language, and only in this | j way can one grasp his Ideals, asplra- tions and prejudices. Owing to the J' events of history (especially during |11 the time of the late Republics) a cer- j * tain amount of prejudice is prevalent 1 hi the native mind against the older; r European population, unwarranted as i c it may be. This feeling has increased e since the annotation of the two Repub­lics. through certain reforms which . have been brought about since that lime. This is very unfortunate and 1 must be remedied, and the process will be a slow one; we all know the native is of a very conservative nature, he thinks slowly, as he does all things g slowly Time Is with him no object.

DUTY OF EUROPEANS.For the future benefit of both the

European population and the native population It is imperative that a change should be brought about in several of our Institutions responsible for the education—in the right sense of the word—of the native. As re­gards the O S 'S . 1 venture to say that matters are gradually improving. The Director of Education, assisted by a staff of bilingual Inspectors for native education ts making progress.

It is our duty, and more especially the dutv o f our churches, to see that the native is enlightened and educated In the proper direction—a duty not only from unselfish motives, but also' a duty to ourselves, our posterity and to our culture. The native as he is: to-day, practically without any educa­tion. without any light o f Christian; religion, is a menace to us and his pre­sence must have a harmful effect on 1 our future progress and that of white I civilisation. The old saying “keep the native ignorant, and retain his ser­vices" is both unpractical and un-, Chrlstlan-llke. We must not forget, that “ to keep the man In the pit we; must stay In the pit ourselves.'' His-, tory has proved that the presence of | an uncivilised race amongst a more: civilised race tends to degrade the superior race both intellectually and; morally.

The first thing required is to see that the native, who Is a child of nature and has a strong feeling ofj patriotism, is. during the course of h is, education and enllghtmenl, not estranged from his own people, as is now the case. He should be taught to: love and appreciate his own race and1 not to despise It. His race pride must j be retained and his history must bej taught.

I liave endeavoured as an ordinary farmer to point out thnt conscientious education for the native will not only} serve to make him an asset for this country, but that proper equipment with knowledge will also serve as a safety valve against both the white' and the black agitator, who come us( foreigners to our country to live on tho Ignorance of and to exploit our other-; wise law-abiding native population. ;

H. M. RAATH, !KesteU

fin most parts of South Africa the native has some knowledge -greater or , less as the ease may be -of tho Inn- 1 gunge spoken by the majority of the Europeans with whom h* comes in contact. The only exception Mi Natal ■ and Zululand, where the natives were formerly encouraged to M»ak no lan­guage except their own. I

;us i *L’S

JSUND.

MANCE

8.15.INEE>.

INENTALRILLS.SHOW.-------35-S — 50

. will lift’»!»<■ IUp-*oib*.. a* A tv'COfJ

in Roller ilttg, CtP.

London.

: onACES.

I»l.

if you weren’t an 1820 Settler you can become a settler in 1931 by using

WINGATEIts a m a 7. l n g

econom y

e n a b l e

to settle

will

y o u

up !

llU t IA B L L

iiu u u s n — i n i .

MOON'S PHASES.Thur*. 13* Now Moon, 0.50 p.m. Tliur*. 20: Klr»t Quarter, 12-50 p.m. Fri. £Si Full Moon, 4.32 p.m.

:eki

V. lOih.will

lia rs.

.ES!Most

\l g ive to the >o not • sorry

VIS,MJ.C.O.

EET.

t.lgb water low watera.in. p. in. a.m. p.m

S S * L . . 10.44 11.21) 4.21 B ;0 Sun. . . . . ------ 12.11 -.50 w o

Id Mon. . . . . 12.4U 1.22 7.0 7.3711 Yu m . . . . 1.31 2. IS 8.3 8.3012 Wed. . . . . 2.42 3.5 8.34 o inIS Thur*. . . . . 3.27 3.47 0.37 9.5714 Frl............. . . 4.7 4.20 10.17 10.3013 Sat. . . . . 4.43 5.3 10.54 U.1S10 Sun. . . . . 5.21 5.39 1130 11.4KIT Mon. . . . . 5.37 (t.ltl ------ 12.0is Tucs. . . . . 0.34 0.57 12:-’ 0 12.4*i10 Wed. . . . . T.22 7.49 1.0 1.3520 Thur*. . . . . R.22 0.0 2.5 2.41Cl Frl............. . . 0.4 4 10.34 4.22 4.022 Sat. . . . . 1..23 — — 4.50 8.4123 Sun............. 12.43 0,17 T i24 Mon. . , . . 1.17 1.44 7.31 7 JO25 Twos. . . . 2.S 2.20 fl.10 8.31'2u Wed. . . . . 2.4!) S.7 8.39 9.1027 Tbura. . . . . 3.24 3.40 0.32 0,4128 Frl............. . . S.5* 4.0 10.2 10.1020 S * t . . . . 4.23 4.37 10.30 10.4430 Sun. . . . . . 4,3(. 3.4 10.57 11.1031 Mon. . . . . 5.17 5.32 11.24 n ,m

TODAY'S DIARY.

0.30 a.m.: R.M. Court.2 pm.s Football. Recreation Ground. 2.15 p.m.: K**t London Sporting Club

race* at Xahi.cn eourno.3, 7 aud » p.m.: Gaiety.S and a p.m.: Vaudcttc.3 and S p.m.: Astoria,3 and 3 p.m. i T ivoli, Cambridge.8.43 p.m.: Diuner-dance, Beach Hotel. Visitor*- Information Sureau, C i t y

nail. Oxford Street Open dally be tween the hour* o f 0 a.m. and 1 p m and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday*, from 0 a.ra to 1 p m.

P a t f p J U sp a tc fj) .SATURD AY, AUGUST 8, 1931.

Sun rlaes ti.54 a.m. Sets 5.311 p.m.

OR

:nttblic.

It-known hava do-

nurnber om* for

t.

ROOMS, 1 AND FRONT iT , 29

*, 1134.

tOAD,

jtT

•LESSpack-

A, C.P.,

*n It. ■tit*

•tHE NATIVE PROBlEM.No apology is needed for den Huy in

tUo*e column# witb the Native que*

tlon on two iueecuive day*, for the

problem is one -which must engage the

aurioua consideration o f every thinking

member <>f the community. Since th*

publicatiou o f yesterday'* leading article

(ho latest lssuo o f the ‘ ‘Natal Mcreury"

to hand, and that paper In

Ita leading column* make* certain

statements upon the Native question

which call for comment. Tho paper

refers to tho Select Coiumittco which

ha* been considering the Native Bill*,

and give* indication* o f wb

policy with regard to them i* likely

to be. Two main point* emerge: The

flr*t, that the Native reserve* should

support a bigger population than they

do at present, and that more land

should bo acquired for Native develop'

ment, whcro the Native will have

'abundant opportunity for self-dcvelop-

ucnt along hla own racial and social

lino*" (In other word*, *cgrcgation),

The second, that tho existing Capo

franchise should be taken away and

the Natives given direct representa­

tion by Native Senators in the Upper

House. Thl* latter scheme I* sold to

bo the idea o f Mr. Heaton Nlcholls,

and tho “ Mercury" enthuse* on the

contribution which thl* gentleman and

Mr. Marwlck have made towards “ the

wore mellow frame o f mind which now

marks the attitude o f tho Government

toward* the quest ion.”

aid yesterday that for eighty

spirit o f tolcrance and under­

standing with regard to tho Natlvo

bad existed In the Cape, which spirit

even today was not present In Natal,

and the remarks in the “ Mercury"

confirm that statement. Kvon If it is admitted that the Native reserve*

should bo better developed and aup.

port tnor« Natives than they do at

present, an rnormou* amount o f land

would bo required in addition to hou*o

the whole o f the Native .population Sf

the Union. Where l* thl* land to bo

foundt It ia o f no ua* to talk glibly

about tho v a n tract* of land which

are unoccupied in South Africa. No man, white or black, could hope to

make a living out o f certain areas,

which I* why they are unoccupied.

A i* the Hires* province*, Nulal, p a n *

voal and Fre« State, whero tho talk of

segregation la *0 loud, piopiircd to

aacrlfiuo liuge trails n f their most

valuable Inin) to tho N iitlvet Assum­

ing thul llto people o f thoflO province*

aro willing to bo bought out o f tlielt

farms, what will they do when once

dispossessed o f their landf They

ndouhtcdly swell thu rank* of

the already too largo army o f poor

white*— imt a pleasant prospect fur

them or for tho country, O f course

more land I* needed for tho Natives,

but It id ourUlnly not avallablo in

sufficient quantity In South Africa.

for "aelf*dovelopmeut along his

own racial and loeinl line*'’-*perhaps

tho good people who advlso such a

course consider that tho present tribal

unrest 1» Natal I* proof o f the benefits

o f auch a system.

W ith regard to the question o f the

Capo franchise, and the election o f

Native Senators, the ' ‘ M ercury” make*

tho most astounding statement*. “ This

franchise," U says, “ in tho past ha*

beeu o f no practical benefit to lta

possessors, and has merely led to an

incredible amount o f huckstering and

intrigue on tho part o f European

politician* which ha* demeaned tho

whlto population in tho eyes o f tho

N ative." Such a statemont could only

havo been written by ono wholly

ignorant o f the state o f affairs in tho

Cape. Apart from being a gratuitous

insult to tho many distinguished men

who have for the past eighty years

represented constltucncioa in which

there were N ative voter*— men auch as

Sir James Rosc-Tnnes, Mr. Sauer, Sir

Richard Solomon, Sir John Frost, Sir

Bissut Berry, Mr. Morrlman, the Hon.

Arthur Fuller, Sir Thomas Smnrtt and

Sir Charles Crewe: all o f them men

who have rendered great and distin­

guished Service to South A frica— that

statement in it ic lf is sufficient to lower

the white man in tho eye* o f the

Native.

But thcra is another point which is

overlooked in Natal, that provinctt

whcro there 1* so much talk o f “ British

rights.” The Native* o f tho Capo

have always voted for British interest*,

and have been instrumental in keeping

at least tivelvo constituencies repre­

sented by member* who arc determined

to maintain tho British connection.

Blindod by colour prejudice, Natal

cannot ace Uint to deprivo the Nativs

o f the franchise in Ili-.Cnpe means the

weakening o f Itritish influenco In

Parliament, where It Is already too

weak. And finally, what beneilt would

the Native* dcrlvo from haring repre­

sentatives In tho Upper House, a

House wliieh has no say at all, and

where everything is party, or race, or

iiothf Native opinion today can bo

aired through the column* o f any

newspaper as effectively a* ever it

cpuld bo in the Senate. The “ Mercury”

concludes a vicious attack on the Cape

members o f Parliament with tho fo l­

lowing word«:

“ . . there is an unhappy suggestion that in the last resort the Cap<J South African P arty members may still endeavour to swing tlicir party as a whole back to the alternative o f accepting General lierisog ’s Bills n* they were originally drafted. That Is ti policy which would, o f course, cover them with ridicule. None were more vocal at the outset in dcuuuciation o f these Bill* than the Cape members, and yet now. • nitcad o f facing a broader and more tolerant solution, involving *orac* thing infinitely better than the Cape franchise, they would perform n retrogressive volte faei« and plunge tho country once more Into the bitterness o f sectional political strife upon a question which transcend* nil party considerations! The idea 1* so Intolerable that wo hope tho Natal members, at their congress this week, will make Ir perfectly clear they will give no countenance to It.”

Thu* doe* the "M ercury” enhance tho

prestige o f the white man in the eve*

o f the Native. 'Hie “ suggestion’' i* a*

mean a* It la “ unhappy,” and Is qulto

obviously false.

tnly

T!Lon.MadvitaaCtw

TI elati of c Leak Dow Bv*i Tool. Kete Don* Girls foaki

“I.)branNow.nesslackothiMyou'llnuraltodaywhotheirfrom

ho d

chlldi hut < arise< cappi“WinHisfc-. with aluuc

Mu. park . the pi Even planii have 'l.ilnn offieln T.vinjjfind i Installpcrpet

for ex while fountu disapp pernonfor *y out, n privet i that p than r

In . lished R eutc

prietoi

assign

tolegri utein. traded keeper W n s

luuity men l by U* Reuter bot h t to Me.

rail. ii 1.000 per di

wIntel who r Union fn-~i

ES

p , A. W, L u c a s

"SUNDAY TIMES” , 9 . 8 . 1 9 3 1 .

Page 1 9 .

GIRLS AS SERVANTS

Juvenile Unemployment Problem

The Rotary Conference on “Vocational Problems of South. African Y outh ” will meet for the second time on September 2: at the University of the Witwaters- rand. Johannesburg.

The joint committee which was appointed by the conference to draft resolutions has now finished its work, and an agenda embodying the com­mittee's recommendations and suggested resolutions has been prepared.

One recommendation is “ That efforts to provide careers in the domestic service for European girls be made and that further propaganda towards this end be undertaken by Juvenile Affairs Boards and other public bodies.’’

Another recommendation deals with the proportion of European and non- European labour. It is suggested “ that another inquiry be made by the Department of Labour and the occupa­tions concerned into the possibility and , desirability of fixing a ratio between ' European and non-European workers ‘ and between . adult, and juvenile- c w orkeri ’fy tw t ftA / f Q .tr./a-, ■ ,

f W - i q ’ - . . ^3I l

F* A . W . L u c a s

SUB-LEADER, "RAND DAILY M I L " , AUGUST 1 0 , 1 9 3 1 .

“ DANGEROUS AND SHOCKING ”

Grave statements regarding the administration of native affairs have been made at the Natal South African Party Congress. Indeed, it was' openly stated that the present trouble among natives is not due to unrest but to bad administra­tion.

“ To-day in the Native Commis­sioner’s office in Maritzburg,” said Mr. P. J . van Rooyen, M.P.C., “ there is not one official who can speak Zulu.”

‘ I have it on good authority,” declared Mr. Heaton Nicholls, M P.,

that, when the Minister of Native Affairs last visited Maritzburg, the natives themselves had to ask for 0.1 interpreter, as there was nobody at headquarters who could speak their language.”

Sev»afor W. G. Thrash referred to two magistrates who asked to be transferred because of their lack of knowledge of native customs.

Mr. Van Rooyen a ’so asserted that some years ago a chief could n">t make a confidential communi­cation to a magistrate because a native interpreter would have to be employed.

Statements of this kind are clearly most serious. They come from men who must be fully aware of the responsibility which they j c e incur in giving utterance to them Pn

J)lendof

* ad2ly of

alsand police wno are oxou&i»u i.ito daily contact with the natives shculd have a good knowledge of tbe natives’ language and habits. Th» same consideration, of course, applies also to men outside the Government service who have been placed in charge of large bodies of natives.

Whatever private employers may do, the Government should ensure that the Native Affairs Department is staffed by officials who can talk to'the natives in their own tongue, who can understand their thoughts and feelings and are acquainted with their customs. The position as revealed at the Natal Congress is “ very dangerous and shocking,” as Mr. Heaton Nicholls aptly . remarked. It is strange, to say j the least, that it should ever have , been allowed to arise.

Without running the risk of unrest and trouble, millions of natives cannot have their affairs administered by officials who are completely out of touch with them. Contact can only be efficiently and effectively established through the | medium of their own language, j

m (

i

Collection Number: AD1769

NATIVE ECONOMIC COMMISSION, Lucas Papers

PUBLISHER: Publisher:- Historical Papers Research Archive

Location:- Johannesburg

©2013

LEGAL NOTICES:

Copyright Notice: All materials on the Historical Papers website are protected by South African copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published in any format, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Disclaimer and Terms of Use: Provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein, you may download material (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal and/or educational non-commercial use only.

People using these records relating to the archives of Historical Papers, The Library, University of the Witwatersrand,

Johannesburg, are reminded that such records sometimes contain material which is uncorroborated, inaccurate, distorted or untrue. While these digital records are true facsimiles of paper documents and the information contained

herein is obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable, Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand has not independently verified their content. Consequently, the University is not responsible for any errors or

omissions and excludes any and all liability for any errors in or omissions from the information on the website or any related information on third party websites accessible from this website.

This document is part of a collection held at the Historical Papers Research Archive at The University of the

Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.