PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS SECTION E. 89 



The Native population of the Union in 19 16 was estimated 

 at 4,504,161,* or, say, 2,253,000 males. f the number of Natives 

 employed in the Transvaal Labour Districts in 191 5 was as 

 follows :$ Mines and Works, 228,279 ; other employ, 53,294 ; 

 making total of 281,573. I have not been aljle to get tlie hgures 

 for other parts of the Union, but we shall be well over the 

 mark if we estimate them at 218,427, making a round total of 

 half a million Natives employed in the Union. This leaves a 

 balance of about one and threerjuarter millions of male Natives 

 who are practically unemployed, for it must be remembered 

 that the greater part of the agricultural work is done by the 

 women. What an enormous difference it would make if the 

 latent energy represented by even half this number could be con- 

 verted into productive power ! And yet year follows year, and 

 nothing is done to develop such a valuable asset. The conver- 

 sion of this latent energ)- into producti\e power can only be 

 effected by education. § 



The natural aspirations of the Bantu towards progress and 

 prosperity have always been seriously handicapped by the 

 ignorance of the masses, their want of method, the apparent 

 absence of any jx)wers of application, and by their ingrained 

 faith in witchcraft. Until we can improve the character of the 

 Natives, teach them the lesson of self-res])ect, con\ince them 

 of the value of steady work and of scientific method, and fill 

 each individual with the desire for progress, they will remain, 

 not merely an unproductive asset, but a stumbling-block to pro- 

 gress, because they occupy land and consume produce which 

 might be put to more prolitable use by others. 



There are many difficulties, however, in the way of provid- 

 ing the necessary " education " which is to make the Native a 

 useful and productive meml)er nf the community. 



The first is to be (found in race {prejudice, and the fear of 

 competition shewn by our own j>eople. 



Race prejudice is due to several causes, among which we 

 may mention — (1) physical repulsion, which may be compared 

 to the feeling of the normal healthy man towards a dwarf, 

 hunchback or otherwise deformed person. 



* Statistical Year Book of S.A. (1915-16) i. 



t According to last Census returns (1904 and 191 1) males nnmhcred 

 slightly over 50 per cent, of total ])opulation. 



J Statistical Year Book p. 2TI. 



§ In order that my meaning may lie quite clear I must ask you to 

 consider what I mean bj- " education." 1 use this word in the broadest 

 sense possible to indicate not merely the formal training of body and mind 

 in our teaching institutions, but also the deeper impressions made on 

 character by the example of the ruling races and the spiritual influences of 

 religion. The native is being educated whether we send him to school 

 or not. The illicit liquor dealer, the prostitute, and the gambling den are 

 all playing their part in the education of the native to-day, and as long 

 as there is contact between the white and black races the process of 

 " education "' will go on, and the sooner we in South Africa realise this, 

 and set to work to control that process, the better it will be for the 

 natives themselves and fur the count rv as a whole. 



