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 10 THE SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN QUESTION

The Attorney-General of Natal who introduced the Bill under discussion expressed the following views while giving h'g evidence before the Commission :

With reference to time-expired Indians, I do not think that it ought to be compulsory on any man to go to any part of the world save for a orime for which he is transported, I hear a great deal of this question; I have been asked again and again to take a dif- ferent view, but I have not been able to do it. A man is brought here, in theory with his own consent in practice very often without his consent, he gives the best five years of hie life, he forms new ties, forgets the old ones, perhaps establishes home here, and he cannot, according to my view of right and wrong, be sent baok. Better by far to stop the further introduction of Indians altogether than to take what work you can out of them and order them away. The Colony, or part of the Colony, seems to want Indians but also wishes to avoid the consequences of Indian immigration, The Indian people do no harm as far as I kuow ; in certain respects they do a gieac deal of good, I have never heard a reason to jus- tify the extradition of a man who has behaved well for five years.

And Mr. Binns who oame to India as one of the Natal Commissioners to induce the Indian Government to agree to the above-mentioned alterations gave the following evidence before the Commission tea years ago :-

I think the idea which has been mooted, that all Indians should be compelled to return to India at the end of their term of indenture, is most unfair to the Indian population, and would never be sanctioned by the Indian Government. In my opinion the free Indian population is a most useful section of the com- munity,

But then great moo may change their views as of- ten and as quiokly as they may ohaage their clothes with impunity and even to advantage. la them, they say, such changes are a result) of sincere conviction. Id is a thousand pities, however, that) unfortunately for the poor indentured Indian his fear or rather the expectation that the Indian Government will never sanction the change was not realised.

Tbe London Star thus gave vent to its feelings on- reading the Bill :

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