BAN'TU INDUSTRIES. 18t> 



Fraser, Medical Inspector for Venereal Disease for the Union. In 

 a recent lecture, according to the report in the "Cape Times," 

 he said : — 



"He wondered why the treatment of syphilis among natives. 

 as a vital business proposition had not yet appealed to the big 

 labour magnates of this country. Syphilis was steadily deplet- 

 ing the labour market of South Africa, and with such rapidity 

 and certainty that in twenty years it would, if not stemmed, 

 render coloured labour so rare that only the very wealthy would 

 be able to pay for it. He dealt with the unnatural Jives of 

 the 300,000 natives on the Rand through the absence of their 

 wives, and said it was up to the Chamber of Mines tto re- 

 organise the living conditions of the industrial native, so that 

 he might bring his wife and family, and be able to lead a 

 domestic life on the mines. He offered this solution to the 

 industrial authorities, as the Chamber of Mines was of opinion 

 that such a gigantic scheme was impracticable. An alternative - 

 policy would be short service contracts for the native, rigid 

 medical examination on arrival and departure, and exhaustive- 

 treatment for such as became infected. Women admitted on 

 the industrial areas would have to be rigidly dealt with." 



If this considered opinion of a scientifically trained expert be 

 a true setting forth of the facts the most valuable asset within the 

 Union is being squandered so recklessly that within twenty years, 

 under present conditions, it will be exhausted. 



Farm labour offers but little attraction to a Native who has 

 any ambition to improve his position or that of his children after 

 him. It is said to be a custom among certain European farmers 

 in the Cape Province to pay a Native whole-time manservant 10/- 

 a month (i.e., £6 a year), together with a dish of mealies once a 

 week and some sour milk. How can a man in these days clothe s 

 himself, his wife and his family on 10/- a month and supply their 

 other wants besides ? How can he send his children to school when 

 there is probably no school for miles round ? Such conditions are 

 only fit for "red" Kafirs at the blanket stage. I believe farmers 

 would be. much better served were they to offer terms of employ- 

 ment that would attract the more advanced Natives. If farmers 

 would also give their Native employees a small share in the profits 

 of the farm, so" that it would be to the interest of the latter that 

 all the farming operations should be as successful as possible, I 

 believe it would pay them handsomely. This has already been 

 tried with marked success. 



After the mines and farms and other outlets for native labour 

 have been supplied there remains in the kraals a vast quantity 

 of potential labour unemployed. This may be seen any day in 

 passing through the kraals scattered over the districts chiefly 

 inhabited by Natives. The old adage is true that Satan finds 

 plenty of mischief for these idle hands. Far happier would they 

 be, and better too, could they be trained to regular work, from 

 Monday morning till Saturday at noon. Such training would go 

 far towards the making of more reliable character. Moreover, 

 the regular income to be obtained from steady work would relieve 

 the poverty which has pressed so sorely upon manv of the native- 



