Page:EB1922 - Volume 32.djvu/569

Rh

dependent i. 1 The 76 seats held by the S.A. party compared with 40 in the old S.A. party and 25 in the old Unionist party. The gains of the enlarged party had been at the expense of the Labour candidates. But an analysis of the poll showed that Smuts had rallied to his side many doubtful voters besides those transferred from Labour. Nor could the Nationalists claim that those who voted for Labour candidates favoured their propa- ganda; there were in the Transvaal bitter contests between Nationalist and Labour candidates. In considering the figures of the votes cast it should be remembered that nine S.A. party candidates were returned unopposed, whereas only one National- ist (Gen. Hertzog himself) was not opposed. It is also note- worthy that the Nationalists' successes we're almost entirely in rural and remote constituencies, decisive evidence that their strength lay in the back- veld Boers. The figures were: S.A. party 138,942 (an increase of 19,455 compared with 1920), Nationalists 104,692 (an increase of over 8,000 ), Labour 28,983 (a decrease of over 12,000).

Following upon the election there was a reorganization of the Cabinet in which Sir Thos. Smartt became Minister for Agricul- ture, Mr. Patrick Buncan Minister for the Interior, and Mr. J. W. Jagger Minister for Railways and Harbours. Another leader of the late Unionist party, Sir Edgar Walton, was appointed High Commissioner in London. In June 1921 Gen. Smuts, Sir T. Smartt and Col. H. Mentz (Minister of Defence) came to London to attend the Imperial Conference. In regard to matters affect- ing the internal affairs of S.A. the most delicate question dis- cussed by the conference was the status of British Indians (see above). While the ministers were still in London the question of the future of Rhodesia advanced a stage. A deputation had been invited to discuss with the Colonial Office a plan for as- certaining whether Rhodesia was prepared to take a referendum upon a definite scheme of self-government (see RHODESIA). Largely however as the result of the general election in the Union in Feb. 1921 the party in Rhodesia which preferred to join the Union had again grown in strength. The Rhodesian deputation saw Gen. Smuts early in Sept., immediately after his return to Cape Town, when it was made clear that though the admission of Rhodesia as a province of the Union would be welcomed, it was a matter for the Rhodcsians to decide.

In the 1921 election campaign the Nationalists sought to evade the main issue partly by assailing the policy of the Government on native affairs. That policy has already been out- lined; by Nationalist orators addressing the back-veld Boer the conciliatory measures adopted were de- nounced as "cooperating with niggers"; by Nationalist orators addressing audiences in the Cape province where the native had the vote the segregation clauses of the Act of 1920 were denounced as evidence of the bias of the Government against the Kaffirs. This method of electioneering had elements of danger, for discontent among considerable sections of the natives was pronounced. The chief ground of complaint was in regard to their economic position. The natives had been quick to learn the lesson of the strikes of white labour on the Rand and in 1917 and subsequent years there had been strikes and native dis- turbances at Johannesburg and other cities. There were also many evidences of political and religious ferment. Serious disturbances at the Lovedale missionary institute in April i92o, 2 were followed on Oct. 23 of the same year by a disastrous collision at Port Elizabeth. In the last-named case the native labourers had struck for higher wages and their leader, Masabalala, president of the Native Workers Union, had been arrested and refused bail. An angry crowd gathered before the court house and fire was opened upon it by the Europeans who feared an

'These figures include the results of recounts and of two by- elections in the Transvaal, necessitated by ties in the voting at the general election. At two by-elections for Cape Town constituencies in Sept. 1921 Labour candidates won, bringing the Labour members of Parliament to 12 and reducing the S.A. Party to 74.

and murder the professors. The rioting began with complaints as to the quality of the bread served, which was the same for whites and blacks.
 * The students attempted to burn down the college buildings

xxxn. 18

Native Unrest.

attack. Rioting and incendiarism ensued and for a time it looked as if Port Elizabeth would be at the mercy of the natives. In all over 20 persons (including one European) were killed and 40 injured. The action of the natives was condemned by many of their leaders, such as Dr. Rubusana, an ex-member of the Cape provincial council and by Mr. Jabavu, 3 a graduate of London University, who, while calling for the remedy of grievances, denounced the " Bolshevist propaganda " permeating the native mind. An investigation made by a commission appointed by the Government tended to show that the authorities at Port Eliza- beth had mishandled the affair, and that bloodshed might have been avoided had Masabalala been granted bail. It was a cause for angry recriminations later when Nationalist candidates for Parliament appeared on the same platform as Masabalala.

A greater tragedy followed at Bulhoek, near Queenstown on May 24 1921. For months several hundreds of natives known as Israelites, proselytes of one Enoch Ngijima, who gave himself out as the prophet Enoch, had been allowed to remain at Bulhoek and they had become a menace to the community. Whether or not earlier action might have averted the calamity is not certain; in this case the Government acted with great forbearance. But at length it became imperative that the Israelites should be compelled to return to their homes, and forces were moved to Bulhoek to be in readiness for eventualities. Enoch proved intractable and his followers proved themselves possessed of all the fanaticism of dervishes. On May 24, when preparations were being made for their removal, large numbers of them, though destitute of firearms, charged the troops, and some 400 were killed or wounded before their ranks wavered and broke. On this occasion the soldiers had no option but to fire; the Israelites, though their reckless charge exhibited only fanaticism, had also shown military skill and had dug trenches and prepared am- bushes for the troops. Their dispersal was a necessity. Neither did fesponsible native leaders approve Enoch's teachings.

The Bulhoek tragedy was, however, regarded by the leaders of the natives as the outcome of unjust economic laws. The case against the Government was put by Mr. Selby Maimang, the president of the Industrial Commercial Workers Union a union which embraced nearly all the native and coloured trade organizations in South Africa at its meeting at Cape Town in July 1921. Mr. Maimang said that the land laws of the country were to blame for the catastrophe. Enoch's following had fallen victims to bad influences brought about by bad administration. Coloured workers were smarting under irritating disabilities in every walk of life. Mr. Maimang, a representative of moderate opinion among the natives, reprobated the useless stirring up of passions, declaring it to be the duty of the Union to educate all non-European workers to guard their own interests. Organ- ization was essential; they could only ward themselves against exploitation by a distinct band of comradeship. As to that many European employers were already convinced that combination among the natives engaged in industries was a factor which they could not ignore.

The decline in trade which became noticeable in the middle of 1920, and was acute in the first half of 1921, added to the dif- ficulties of the industrial problem. It affected both white and coloured labour severely and caused renewed agitation on the Rand, while diamond mining came almost to a standstill.

Lord Buxton's tenure of the office of governor-general and high commissioner came to an end in 1920. In very difficult cir- cumstances he had carried out his duties with firmness and in a manner which won the esteem of all classes, including the Nation- alists. He identified himself with the interests of S. Africa. On giving up office he was granted an earldom (Oct. 21 1920), and on his return home served as chairman of the committee ap- pointed to inquire into the future government of Rhodesia. Prince Arthur of Connaught was chosen as the new governor-general and high commissioner. He reached the Cape on Nov. 17 ten years after his father, the Duke of Connaught, had opened the first session of the Union Parliament.

8 Son of Tengo Jabavu (d. 1921), editor of Imvo (zi Bantu), an influential native newspaper, which he had founded in 1884.