Natal

The inter-colonial commission had dealt with the native ques tion as it affected South Africa as a whole ; it was felt that a more local investigation was needed, and in Aug. 1906 a strong commission was appointed to inquire into the condition of the Natal natives. The commission, whose report was published in Aug. 1907, declared that the chasm between the native and white races had been broadening for years and that the efforts of the administration to reconcile the Bantus to the changed conditions and to convert them into an element of strength had been in effective. Among other proposals for a more liberal and sympa thetic native policy the commission urged the creation of a native advisory board entrusted with very wide powers. "Personal rule," they declared, "supplies the keynote of successful native control" —a statement amply borne out by the influence over the natives exercised by Sir T. Shepstone. The unrest in Zululand delayed action being taken on the commission's report. But in 1909 an act was passed which placed native affairs in the hands of four dis trict commissioners, gave to the minister for native affairs direct executive authority and created an advisory council for native affairs on which non-official members had seats.

Concurrently with the efforts to reorganize their native policy the colony also endeavoured to deal with the Asiatic question. The rapid growth of the Indian population from about 1890 caused much disquiet among the majority of the white inhabitants, who viewed with especial anxiety the activities of the "free," i.e., unindentured Indians. Several acts had already been passed im posing restrictions upon Indians, and in 1908 a strong commission was appointed to inquire into the whole subject. This commission reported in 1909, its general conclusion being that in the interests of Natal the importation of indentured Indian labour should not be discontinued. For sugar, tea and wattle growing, farming, coal-mining and other industries indentured Indian labour ap peared to be essential. Nothing further was done in Natal up to the establishment of the Union of South Africa, when all ques tions specially or differentially affecting Asiatics were withdrawn from the competence of the provincial authorities.

Union and After.

Not long after the conclusion of the war of 1899-1902 the close commercial relations between the Trans vaal and Natal led to suggestions for a union of the two colonies, but these suggestions were not seriously entertained. The federa tion or union of all the colonies was a different and more reason able measure; and this matter was formally reopened by the Cape ministry in 1906. The movement for union rapidly gained strength, and a national convention to consider the matter met in Durban in Oct. 1908. In Natal, especially among the older colonists, who feared that in a united South Africa Natal interests would be overborne, the proposals for union were met with sus picion and opposition, and the Natal ministry felt bound to submit the question to the people. A referendum act was passed in April 1909, and in June following the electors by 11,121 votes to 3,701 decided to join the Union. (See SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF.)

Meanwhile it was agreed by the Cape, Transvaal and Natal Gov ernments that, subject to Natal entering the Union, its share of the Rand import trade should be 25% before and 3o% after the establishment of the Union. Previously Natal had only 221% of the traffic, and this agreement led to a revival in trade. The closing months of Natal's existence as a separate colony thus found her peaceful and prosperous. On the establishment of the Union on May 31, 1910, Natal entered it as an original province, Sir F. R. Moor, the premier, becoming a member of the first Union cabinet.

The change from the status of a self-governing colony to a province of the Union affected Natal politically more closely than any other province, since in it alone were the great majority of the white inhabitants of British descent. The firm attachment of Natalians to the British connection continued an unchanging fac tor in the South African situation. Provincial administration was, however, largely carried on upon non-party lines. An exception occurred in 1927 when not a single candidate opposed to the in clusion of the Union Jack in the national flag of the Union was returned to the provincial council. About 7o% of the total ex penditure of the council is on education. Sir George Plowman, who had filled the office of administrator with great ability since 1918 was succeeded as administrator in 1928 by H. Gordon Watson.

The Indian Problem.

Of the 161,339 British Indians in the Union in 1921, no fewer than 141,336 lived in Natal. Besides labourers, there were many Indians engaged in professions and commerce. White South Africans in general opposed the further increase of Asiatics in the Union ; while, in 1911, the Indian Government, long dissatisfied with the attitude of Natal to Indians, prohibited the recruitment of indentured coolies. The Indians both in Natal and the Transvaal complained of many grievances, and their cause was championed by M. K. Gandhi, then resident in South Africa. Arising out of the agitation, riots and disturb ances occurred in Natal in 1913. In 1914 the Union Government passed legislation intended to prevent Indian immigration into South Africa and to prevent Asiatics already in the Union leaving the province in which they lived. The Smuts-Gandhi agreement of that year was designed to guard the vested interests of Indians already in the Union. The attitude of the white inhabitants of Natal was shown by the borough ordinance passed by the provin cial council in Jan. 1924, debarring Indians in future from acquir ing the municipal franchise. This ordinance was held up by the Union Government for consideration, but in Dec. 1924, assent to its operation was given. The parliamentary franchise was, with few exceptions, already confined to whites. In 1925 there were 38,547 parliamentary electors, of whom only 24 were Indian. In 1927 an agreement on the Indian question was reached by the Union Government and the Government of India, which led to an amelioration of the condition of Indians in Natal.