CO885-(18-19) — Page 389

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference

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19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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(.) where the whites, in consequence of the land being their home, very numerous they are not so liable as a small white Community among innumerable blacks to panic and consequent cruelty and

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iii. with a large white population a public opinion can grow up, stronger and healthier where there is only a handful of whites.

On the other hand--with the possible xception of New Zealand-the size or ang standing of the white community ardly seems to diminish the colour rejudice, and the fact that, in the Crown olonies and Protectorates, the number f government officers is large in' pro- ortion to the traders, that those officers e not responsible to an elected locul arliament but to a governor and a egretary of State, and that on their futed success and humanity in handling atives their own interest depends is a reat safeguard and source of confidence

natives, Therefore, although there my 1. many instances of tactless or rutal officers, the natives are apt to fare etter in a Crown Colony and Protecto- ate than in a self-governing colony and bis mainly for reason

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(4) That the ultimate power in a 'rown Colony is not on the spot. ttach more importance to this than to ny other point. The fate of the natives

a Crown Colony rests with a power England influenced by a public opinion hich has no colour prejudice and only nglish traditions and views of political quality and justice. It seems to me that dese views may well be onesided from. Fant of knowledge, but they must evitably tend to more favourable treat- bent of the natives than is accorded by en who live side by side with them. nd whose judgment is likely to be warped

y colour prejudice, and, if not so dis- orted. may be less favourable, simply ecause it is more accurate and free from English counter-prejudice. Further,

(e) In the Crown Colonies and Pro- ectorates there is more personal rule than the Self-governing Colonies. It will e noted what importance the Report of he Natal Native Affairs Commission ttaches to this point. "the more in- elligent and reflective umong the natives ɔ frequently drew comparisons between ae consideration and treatment shown nem in pre-responsible Government days hen the personal factor had sway and that it is to-day when this element has

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practically been eliminated altogether. A system of government which disregards natural laws and leaves out of account the idiocrasy of a people is doomed to failure"

(p. $).

"We never stopped to think that our system had become too impersonal for the masses" (p. 9).

Personal rule supplies the keynote of successful native control” (p. 1U).

"In all their dealings with the natives they (the magistrates) are trammelled and hedged in by law and rule, which allow no room for the display of those personal qualities of head and heart, which form the strongest bond between a foreign ruler, fitted for dominancy, and a dependent people" (p. 12).

The Report does not notice, I think, that the value of the Crown Colony system is that there

is personal rule, but personal rule safeguarded by control from England.

Problems as to Native races common

to both Crown Colonies and Self- governing Colonies.

(a) How far is it possible or desirable permanently to keep the natives as a separate element in the community?

(b) If, for the time being, they must be kept separate, how can the evils of the separateness be minimised ?

(c) If it is advisable or inevitable or both gradually to bring them within the ordinary citizenship, how can the transition best be effected?

(d) Whether the natives are in the separate stage or the citizen stage, can anything further be done in the direction of non-political measures and precautions which are open to no exception and likely to prevent evil or do good?

(a) Unless the native race is (like the East Indians or Chinese) one with an old civilisation of its own, I do not see how it can be main- tained that it is either desirable or possible to keep natives permanently apart under a separate organisation. The ordinary savage system of tribal chiefs is and must be unprogressive; it must break down sooner or later as this and that coloured man meets with new ideas, which it is impossible, even if it were desirable, to keep out, or as the hereditary chiefs die out, as appears to have been the case in Fiji. The report of the South African Native Affairs Commission says (p. 19) "The native population as a whole instinctively cling to and cherish the communal system. But there is an increasing number who fret under the conditions of communal life, seeking alike for the opportunity to gain independence

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