PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.885
19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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pervision the tribal system which I have.
cannot be a permanent solution.
he native question in South Africa is
ted
(a) by the presence of two dominant chite races, and those two races differing n tradition on the native question
(6) by the presence of other coloured aces than natives of Africa, the most mportant being the East Indian element Natal, though the East Indians in Satal do not form so large a proportion of the population as in Mauritius,
It is also Trinidad or British Guiana. omplicated by the diversities of land enure,
and manifold differences of custom and status.
I
On the other hand, the main body of are more or less of one type and, as und, the large majority are more or less level, inviting within limits a uniforma of treatment throughout South Africa. uth African Native Affairs Commission 1.52):
all important questions, although marked ces exist, it should be possible to arrive orm principles to be followed in the olicy of the South African Governments, diverse conditions under which different s of natives live, and the varying degrees ised advancement to which they have Isuggest the impracticability of immediate nity in Native administration."
Missionary influence, which is a pro- and an educating influence, is, and always n from Moffat's and Livingstone's times, iy strong in South Africa, and specially cked in England. Native education has
ik I am right in saying) been almost
in the bands of the churches.
report of the Commission on South
1 Native Affairs says (p. 49):
tive education has almost completely itself into what may be briefly des
as
a system of State-aided Mission
"; and the Director of Education in the
e River Colony, in his 1906 report, writes
e efforts put forth by the various churches
mexion with the work of civilising and
ing the natives of this colony."
h
passages
could be indefinitely multiplied.
'estions as regards Native policy
in South Africa.
following comments are made without
ite knowledge, and are entirely subject to
im and correction from others who have
closely following South African matters, 10 know South Africa from personal
ence :-
I take it as a commonplace that the two
defects of native policy in South Africa
:..
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have beeti (1) want of uniformity, (ii) want of continuity.
Want of uniformity displays itself in "two directions. There is different handling of the native problem by the different self-governing States, and there is different handling by any one of those States and the Imperial Govern- ment. Given two traditionally antagonistic white races, and States with different institutions, Self-governing Colonies, two of which were till lately Republics, Crown Colonies, and Pro- tectorates, want of uniformity was inevitable. Diversity of views upon the native question was the main cause of the Great Trek—the breaking up of South Africa; it is apparently the great difficulty in the way of reunion. The most serious feature in this want of uniformity seems
to me to be the effect that it must have on the natives. They must be perpetually contrasting local rule with rule controlled from England. They must inevitably see and appreciate division among their rulers.*
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Want of continuity is due to parliamentary institutions in England and South Africa. It would be superfluous to illustrate it or enlarge upon its mischievous results. The Natal Com. missioners refer in their report (p. 3) to "the absence of persistent purpose in the native policy of Natal and the apprehensions raised in ative minds by the movability of ruling officers, which is the chief feature of responsible government
Not only do Ministers change but their ideas of treatment vary also, and this raises suspicion and engenders mistrust.' I do not know-in the British Empire, at any
·rate,―any exact parallel to the case of South Africa. We are familiar in colonial history with the difficulties arising from want of con- tinuity in foreign and colonial history due to parliamentary government in England, but I cannot recall another wholly analogous case of parliamentary government on the spot as applied over a majority of fellow subjects who are not slaves bur not citizens.
h) Is there any practicable remedy for this want of uniformity?
Complete uniformity implies uniformity of laws and also uniformity of administration ; but I take it that there may be partial uniformity- uniform laws diversely administered, or diverse laws but uniform machinery of administration. South African union would imply complete uni- South formity of law and administration. African federation would imply a certain amount of diversity.
There cannot be either complete union or complete federation without including the pre- sent Crown Colonies and Protectorates, but there could be incomplete union or federation. ¿, union or federation of the Self-governing Colonies
• See paragraphs 4 7 of Lord Carnarvon's despatch of 4th May, 1875, “ Proposal for a Conference of dele- gutes from the Colonies and Stares of South Africa.” [C. 1244], Muy, 1875.
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