604 THE NATIVES IX THE LARGER TOWNS. 



return to their homes of minors and others whose absence occa- 

 sions hardship or anxiety. Letters are written to other centres 

 to Native affairs officers with reference to the continued absence 

 of fathers, liusbands and brothers, who have left their people 

 destitute. Disputes between European employers and Natives 

 are enquired into with a constant view to an amicable settlement. 

 Advice is given in the large class of disputes arising between 

 Natives, and when the parties arrive at an agreement promissory 

 notes are drawn and attested before a Justice of the Peace. 



Natives are assisted in the completion of petitions to Govern- 

 ment, letters to Government departments, claims against the 

 Railway Administration for lost goods, applications for cattle 

 permits, etc., and in tracing relatives in prisons or hospitals — and 

 whenever indigent, destitute, crippled or sick Natives are without 

 means of reaching their homes their railway fares are paid by the 

 department. 



Native Chiefs visiting the borough are suitably accommo- 

 dated and fed at the Native location. 



Deaths of Natives in the borough are notified to their rela- 

 tives, and in cases of Natives permanently disabled in machinery 

 accidents assistance is given with a view to the recovery of com- 

 pensation. Natives injured in street accidents are provided with 

 medical attention or hospital treatment at the expense of the 

 department. Where Natives are killed or injured through 

 culpable negligence in street accidents, or in the course of their 

 employment, the heirs of the deceased or injured Natives are often 

 out of reach, and when informed of the circumstances, are most 

 frequently in ignorance of their rights under the common law. 



It is desirable that Town Councils should be constituted the 

 guardians in law of all Natives killed or injured in such circum- 

 stances, so that they may be legally warranted in acting for 

 absent heirs or incapacitated persons in the prosecution of claims 

 for compensation or in eliciting evidence on their behalf at 

 inquests, etc. 



The control of the police system by Town Councils could be 

 made to minister to the betterment of the Natives. 



Tn Durban the Natives are encouraged to represent to the 

 Chief Constable any legitimate catises of complaint against their 

 treatment, and proved instances of excess of authority are suitably 

 de^lt with. In such matters as the fixing of bails at an amount 

 sufficient onlv to mark the breach of the law and not necessarily 

 to penalise the individual heavily, or to have him locked up, and 

 in other matters of routine, the system of municipal police is more 

 elastic than that controlled from one centre of the Union. 



Medical Examination. 



The powers provided under the new Bill are insufficient to 

 authorise the medical examination of Natives. 



TTnder the existing pass ree"ii1ations in Transvaal municipali- 

 ties all Natives applying for employment are examined, and may 

 be rejected if found to be suffering from syphilis in any form or 

 from tuberctilosi<; in an infective stage. 



