602 THE NATIVES IN THE LARGER TOWNS. 



some sort made to resemble that of the Spanish character, whose 

 nature it was " to steal a sheep, and give away the trotters for 

 God's sake!" 



Illicit Liquor Evil. 



The latest development of the discussion of the important 

 question of the illicit liquor evil on the Witwatersrand, viz., the 

 report of the Select Committee of the House of Assembly recom- 

 mending the amendment of the Transvaal Liquor Laws in respect 

 of the sale of liquor to Natives and coloured persons so that the 

 sale of beer not exceeding ten per cent, of proof spirit, and light 

 wines of approved alcoholic strength, to such persons on the Wit- 

 watersrand may be legalised is one that must cause grave alarm. 



This would, indeed, be to make two drunkards grow where 

 only one grew before ! 



Those who have been content to give a trial to the system for 

 the sale of Native beer as a means of regulating the moderate use 

 by Natives of their own beverage had been guided by con- 

 siderations of the Native's traditional idea of Native beer as a 

 food, his existing taste for that kind of food, and its low alcoholic 

 standard. 



To give him facilities for acquiring a taste for our beer and 

 light wines would be a wild experiment, having neither basis of 

 ascertained fact nor colourable probability of success for iti 

 foundation. In other words, the one experiment, as I have always 

 understood it, is designed to take the Native as he is, and if we 

 cannot teach him moderation with his own beverage, at least tc> 

 take care that he does not acquire a taste for other and stronger 

 forms of alcohol, and to be in a position to reverse our experiment 

 at anv time. The alternative now suggested would be comparable 

 to relinquishing all proper control over the question and driving 

 post-haste to the devil. 



A National Dutv. 



The policy of the Bill with respect to financial provisions — 

 the most important matter relating to the improvement of Native 

 conditions in the towns — is a disappointing one. 



Under the Bill the Government does not assume any financial 

 responsibility, but merely authorises the local authority : — 



(a) To borrow money for Native purposes on the security 



of the municipal rates, subject to repayment out of 

 revenue derived from Natives. 



(b) To collect rents from Native tenants in locations and 



hostels. 



(c) To collect fees from employers for the registration of 



Native contracts. _ . 



(cH To administer a monopoly 'for the sale of Native beer. 

 (e) To invest any surplus money accruing to the Native 



Revenue Account. 

 The whole of the financial provisions of the Bill are <i nega- 

 tion of the nrincinle that thp control and administration of Native 

 affairs is a national duty. It is made to appear as one of purely 



