Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/109

 You will have noticed that? the official aft Maritzberg TII al- treated fcbe Indian passenger although his white fellow-passenger did not mind him, If this ia nob bestial treatment), I should very much like to know what is, and such occurrences takp place often enough to be irritating.

It was found during the case that one of the witnesses for the defendant was coached. In answer to a question from the Baneh whether the Indian passengers were treated with consideration, the witness who was one of the officials referred to replied in the affirmative. Thereupon the presiding Magistrate who tried the case is reported to have said to the witness, "Then you have a different opinion to what) I hava and it is a curious thing that people who are no*i connected with the railway observe more than you."

The Natal Advertiser, a European daily in Darban, made the following remarks on the case :

It was indisputable from the evidence that the Arab had been badly treated and seeing that second class tickets are issued to Indians of this description, the plaintiff ought not to have been

subjected to unnecessary annoyance and indignity, Some

definite measures should be taken to minimise the danger of trouble arising between European and coloured passengers without render- ing the carrying out of suoh measures annoying to any person whether black or white.

In the course of its remarks on the same case the Natal Mercury observed :

There is throughout South Afrioa a tendency to treat all Indians, as coolies pure and simple, no matter whether they be edu- cated and cleanly in their habits or not. ., OQ our railways we have noticed on more than one occasion that coloured passengers are not by any means treated with civility, and although it "would be unreasonable to expect that the white employees of the N.G.B. should treat them with the same deference as is aooorded to European passengers still we think it would not be in any way derogatory to their dignity if the officials were a little more Suavitor in moda when dealing with coloured travellers.

Sne Cape Times, a leading newspaper in South Afrioa, says :

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