Quarterly Chronicle

The Royal African Society

Quarterly ChronicleAuthor(s): Alan GraySource: African Affairs, Vol. 56, No. 225 (Oct., 1957), pp. 249-264Published by: Oxford University Press on behalf of The Royal African SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/719399 .

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249

Quarterly Chronicle Compiled by ALAN GRAY

UEEN Elizabeth the Queen Mother paid a brief visit to the Federation of Rhodesia in July the main ceremony of which was her installation as

president of the University College. In a quick tour by air Her Majesty found a great welcome on the Copperbelt and at Broken Hill and Lusaka. An impressive moment was the state baraza at Zomba, the capital of Nyasa- land, where the Queen Mother was the guest of Sir Robert Armitage, the

Governor, and Lady Armitage at Government Queen Mother House. One hundred and thirty-five chiefs shook

in Rhodesia hands with the Queen Mother after representatives from the three provinces had presented addresses

of welcome and gifts. Chief Somba, from the southern province, clad in black and silver robes presented her Majesty with a copper gong suspended between two huge hippopotamus teeth, while Chief Katumbi, of the northern province, gave her an inlaid wood casket made at the Livingstonia mission and filled with coffee beans. From the central province came a 40 lb. elephant tusk, the right-hand tusk of the elephant, which traditionally belongs to the chief.

The Queen Mother's reception in the South was equally enthusiastic. " A striking act of faith " was how the Queen Mother acclaimed the setting up of the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, of which she was installed as president on July 5. " To insist that the College from its incep- tion should aim at the highest academic standards," said Her Majesty, " and should open its doors to all who are qualified to enter, regardless of race or colour, is a great challenge. I am persuaded that this act of faith will be justified and this challenge successfully met because the College, by the very boldness of its conception, is in the pioneering tradition of this country-the tradition of which the supreme example is the life and service of Cecil Rhodes. Today is not only a day of rejoicing for what has been achieved, it is also a day of dedication to the tasks which lies ahead. If the College is to take its rightful place in the academic Commonwealth of uni- versities you must be unwearying in your determination to maintain un- diminished those high standards which have established the College as a centre of learning." The Queen Mother gave this message to the peoples of the Federation : " This University College is a national asset and a symbol of your nationhood. May you learn to cherish it and as it grows to its full stature may you have cause to be proud of it."

Included in the Queen Mother's tour was a visit to the Roan Antlopee Mine at Luanshya. She travelled in the mine cage to a depth of 1,440 ft. In one mine tunnel the Queen Mother talked to African pneumatic machine



250 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

drillers and watched them working at the mine face. In another tunnel she saw miners laying explosive charges preparatory to blasting. She watched the African crew loading broken rock from a previous blast into trucks, and chatted with African mine workers.

T WO Muslim leaders, Alhaji Ahmadu Baba and Alhaji Usman Lalemie, were deported to Nigeria from Ghana at the end of August in terms of a

special Bill passed by Dr. Nkrumah's Government. The case caused a great deal of excitement in Ghana and achieved wide publicity overseas. Dr. Nkrumah said in a statement: "That the Bill was necessary because those supporting the case of the two men were engaged in a systematic campaign

to provoke violence." Ghana Unrest In a speech in the Assembly the Prime Minister

had announced that the Government contemplated introducing compulsory national service, side by side with the establishment of a territorial force. An intelligence service would be established to give the Government "a comprehensive picture of the local and international situation." The Ministry of the Interior and Justice is to become two separate departments.

Dr. Nkrumah said Ghana intended to pursue a policy in the international sphere of exerting her influence on the side of peace, respect for the independence of other nations, the rights of all people to decide for themselves their own Government, and the protection of the right of all men to lead their own lives in freedom and without fear. Ghana had close ties with Britain, France, and the United States. " Nevertheless, I am sure these three great Powers would be the first to appreciate the realistic reasons why we, as a small country, should endeavour to preserve normal relations with the other two great Powers of the world-the Soviet Union and China."

He said he had decided that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry should be re-designated the Ministry of Trade and Development, under its present Minister, Mr. Kojo Botsio. He, Dr. Nkrumah, would retain responsibility for the Work Development Commission, particularly in respect to the Volta Dam project. The Ministry of Labour, Co-operatives and Social Welfare would be redesignated the Ministry of Labour and Co-operatives, a post which would be occupied by Mr. N. A. Welbeck, hitherto Minister without Portfolio.

Dr. Nkrumah said the time had come to split the Ministry of the Interior and Justice. The holder of that dual office, Mr. Ako Adjei, would be the Minister of Justice, while the new Minister of the Interior would be Mr. Krobo Edusei, whose place as Minister of Communications would be taken by Mr. F. Y. Asare, until now Minister of Labour, Co-operatives and Social Welfare. He said that, six months after independence, Ghana was pursuing an independent policy as a member of the British Commonwealth and



QUARTERLY CHRONICLE 251

would take her place in the United Nations when the General Assembly opened next month. Ghana had taken the initiative in calling together the Governments of the independent States of the African continent for an exchange of views. The conference of African states was expected to take place early next year in Accra.

Dr. Nkrumah referred to the importance to Ghana of cocoa and other exports. He said it was the Government's intention to invite the Japanese, Chinese and Russian Governments to receive a trade mission from Ghana. He hoped a mission would also be able to visit India and possibly other countries in the Far East.

The Prime Minister spoke of British, Canadian, and American interest in the Volta Dam project. While American and other interests had continued to express active interest in the project, the Government felt the time had come when a general review of the situation should be made with Aluminium Ltd. of Canada and a meeting was to be held in a few weeks' time. "The Government intents to do everything in its power to bring the scheme to life, so long as an agreement could be negotiated which would safeguard the basic interests of Ghana," he said.

In a reference to the deportations (the third man he mentioned was Timothy, a Sierra Leone journalist) Dr. Nkrumah said : " We have witnessed recently a unique interest in the affairs of Ghana. The deportation of three people has aroused the attention of the world Press, sections of which often pass over in silence many of the arbitrary executions, arrests, and detentions which unfortunately occur in other parts of the world." He did not resent the criticisms which had appeared in the liberal European papers concerning the deportations, but they were based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

His Government did not object to political attacks by opponents since these were an essential part of democracy. " What is completely destructive of democracy and what the Government will not tolerate are unfounded and unwarranted attacks on the judiciary, police, civil service, and army." The Government was determined to deal firmly and effectively with any individual or group indulging in subversive activities. He warned civil servants that strong disciplinary action would be taken against them if " openly or secretly" they indulged in disloyal, subversive or poliitcal activities.

Subsequently two other Muslims were deported to Nigeria, and the "Daily Telegraph" correspondent, Mr. I Colvin, was declared a prohibited visitor after a widely-publicised case brought against him for allegedly contentious dispatches published by him in London. His counsel, Mr. Christopher Shawcross, Q.C., was also declared unwelcome in Ghana for criticising the Government in the court. Proceedings against Mr. Colvin were later dropped. The Opposition factions in Ghana have met and formed the United Party.



252 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

A WHITE PAPER recently issued outlines British policy as regards investment in the Commonwealth. It is based on five principles.

1. The ability of the United Kingdom to play an effective part in the provision of resources for investment in the Commonwealth overseas depends upon the maintenance of the strength of sterling and the successful development of the United Kingdom's own economy. The temptation to accept

liabilities which would overtax its resources and Commonwealth strain its financial structure is dangerous not only

Investment to the United Kingdom but to the Commonwealth as a whole. 2. Since the strength of sterling is the

basis of the prosperity of their trade and is also the foundation of their development, members of the sterling Commonwealth all have a vital interest in sustaining policies which will strengthen it. 3. The Commonwealth does not possess, within its own boundaries, all the capital required to carry out development on the scale or at the pace which its people seek. It is therefore right that additional capital should be sought from outside, both from the non-sterling capital markets of the world and from international institutions. Well-conceived expansion thus financed will result in an increase in general economic activity which benefits the Commonwealth as a whole.

4. It is through the investment of privately owned funds that the United Kingdom has made its most valuable contribution to development in other Commonwealth countries, and the United Kingdom Government considers that this should continue. Capital of this kind, originating from private sources in this country, not only is well adapted to the financing of mining, industrial, manufacturing and other enterprise in Commonwealth countries but also, through the medium of public loans on the London market, can assist in meeting the needs of Commonwealth and Colonial Governments for primary development, such as power and communications. Private enterprise is better adapted to undertake the risk investment which often produces the most valuable addition to economic progress. Direct private investment forges the most permanent trading links between countries and opens up the field for the exchange of technical skills. Private capital will flow most readily for these purposes to those Commonwealth countries which take practical steps to attract it. 5. The provision of capital is but one part of Commonwealth development. The provision of all forms of technical knowledge, whether financial, industrial or scientific, is of parallel importance. The experience and resources of the United Kingdom in these fields are considerably greater than those of other members of the Commonwealth. Its own need for technical and scientific manpower, for research, industry, and education, is urgent and insistent, but the United Kingdom is determined to make special efforts to meet the needs of the less developed Common- wealth countries.




THE report of the delegation of the United Kingdom branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association which visited Kenya early

this year remarks on the energy and purpose found in the Colony and pays a tribute to the administration and the departmental officers for the quality of their work and sense of urgency and mission they bring to it. Dealing with the Colony's economic problems, the report emphasises that " the land

is the foundation of the Kenya economy and good Report on husbandry is its main protection. We think it

Kenya desirable to point out that a considerable part of the most productive highland soil in Kenya is

farmed not by Europeans but by Africans and particularly by the Kikuyu. It follows that unless this land is farmed under the best conditions of manage- ment, the Kenya economy is deprived of a valuable part of its agricultural potential, which cannot be replaced from other sources. It is for this reason that the process of land consolidation now taking place in the African areas is so highly important, since it can make or mar the future prosperity of the Colony. There is still a good deal of political capital made out of the racial nature of the White Highlands, the report finds. On this issue, as on all the allied questions of the lands reserved for various tribes, the delegates express the hope that a solution is not far away. " It is sometimes forgotten that changes of policy, whether in the White Highlands or elsewhere, need not entail a revision of the law, but merely the sanction of the communities concerned, leading to a modification of administrative practice. For example, there is nothing to prevent the Boards which control these matters from permitting the leasing of suitable lands in the White Highlands to African tenant farmers ; or on the other hand sites for industry in the African reserves. This is the sort of natural development under safeguards which would do a great deal to assist the economy, remove frustration, and create a co- operative atmosphere."

The delegation came to the conclusion that any serious increases in Kenya taxation at the present time would merely lead to the exclusion of investment and technical skills. The report points out that "if we are correct in our belief that little substantial additional taxation can be raised in Kenya without serious detrimental effects on the future of the economy, there is a period of years ahead during which the injection of capital, from both public and private sources, will be of paramount importance. So long as finance is painfully restricted the least productive projects, which are often by no means the least essential, are bound to suffer, since the available capital is used to expand production, boost the economy and meet by that means the annual bills. It is not in the best interests of Kenya that a hand-to-mouth policy should be enforced, at the end of a severe crisis which has involved an immense unproductive expenditure on security measures and the military campaign. The money and effort spent on quelling the Mau Mau insurrection, had it been used for productive and long-term peaceful projects, would have changed the whole situation in Kenya."



254 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

A ?137,700,000 four-year development plan for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, covering the period 1957-61, was presented to the

Parliament by the Minister for Home Affairs, Sir Malcolm Barrow. Sir Malcolm stated that availability of finance, and not of physical resources, had proved a limiting factor in framing the plan. Over ?117 million is allocated to economic services, of which electric power development accounts

for over ?60 million, and transport and communi- ?137,700,000 cations for more than ?54 million. The Kariba Federal Plan project takes up ?54 million of the ?60 milion

provided for electric power development. The allocation to the Southern Rhodesian Electricity Supply Commission is

?5"6 million. This covers a programme for the replacement of transmission

lines which are overloaded, or which will become so during the currency of the plan. The prospect of supplies from Kariba makes provision for increases in generating capacity elsewhere unnecessary.

Rhodesia Railways are allocated ?38"8

million. Of this sum ?19 million is to be spent on locomotives and rolling stock, ?9 million on traffic and operating facilities,

?7"1 million on staff housing and

?3"7 million on per-

manerit ways, bridges, deviations, etc. Investment on posts and telecom- munications will amount to ?7'4 million, and on roads and bridges ?6"4 million. In Southern Rhodesia, work will be concentrated on the completion of the Bulawayo-Beit Bridge road and on the Salisbury-Chirundau and Bulawayo- Victoria Falls roads. It is hoped that a start will be made with the Salisbury- Mtoko road. Civil aviation is allocated ?1 million, of which ?570,000 is for the Woodvale airport at Bulawayo, planned to be completed in the financial year 1958-59. Education and health services have been allocated

?5"7 million and ?5"6

million respectively. Housing for civil servants in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland is to cost ?1 "25 million.

The ?54 million required for the Kariba project is being provided from the special funds already secured. In the case of the investments in the transport system, Rhodesia Railways is to provide, from its own resources, ?138 million of the total required. Other amounts drawn from federal revnues arid funds bring the estimated total available from existing resources to ?96"8 million, leaving ?40"9 million to be raised by borrowing.

The roads and bridges programme would need ?6,406,000. In Southern Rhodesia work would be concentrated on the completion of the Bulawayo- Beit Bridge road and on the Salisbury-Chirundu and Bulawayo-Victoria Falls roads. A start would be made on the Salisbury-Mtoko road. Expendi- ture by the Southern Rhodesian Electricity Supply Commission during the four-year period would cost

?5"6 million. Education would take ?5,680,000

and health services ?5"6 million. Bush clearing around the perimeter of the Kariba Lake would cost ?1 million,

The major element in the proposed expenditure of ?1,018,000 on civil aviation was the new Woodvale Airport at Bulawayo, planned to be completed in 1958-59 at cost of ?570,000.




ALHAJI Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Minister of Transport, was appointed first Prime Minister of the Federaiont of Nigeria on August 30. In

accordance with the principal immediate amendments to the existing Nigerian constitution agreed on in the recent London conference the Council of Ministers has been dissolved and the new Prime Minister has submitted his Cabinet for the Governor-General's approval. The Cabinet is as follows:

Commerce and Industries, K. O. Mbadiwe (formerly Communications and Aviation); Lands, Mines and Power (additional duties include Lagos Affairs) Malam Ribadu; Labour, Chief

Nigeria gets a Premier

Festus Okotie-Eboh (Unchanged) ; Transport, Raymond Njoku (Commerce and Industries); Communications and Aviation, Chief S. L. A. Akintola (Action Group, formerly Opposition Leader); Education, Aja Nwachuku (Social Services); Health, Ayo Rosiji (Action Group); Research and Information, Chief Kola Balogun (Unchanged); Internal Affairs, J. M. Johnson.

Victor Mukete (Southern Cameroons) and Malam Dipcherima, former Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport, become Ministers of State. The Prime Minister retains the Finance Portfolio.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. Lennox-Boyd, has sent the following message to the Prime Minister:

"I send to you personally my warmest congratulations on your appointment by the Governor-General as the first Prime Minister of the Federation of Nigeria. I deeply appreciate the public spirit which you have shown in accepting this heavy burden of office.

" My colleagues in this country join with me in conveying to you and to all your colleagues in the Council of Ministers our very best wishes in the exacting tasks on which you are now embarked. These next few years will be of critical importance for the whole of Nigeria and I sin- cerely trust that, with the loyal support of your fellow Ministers, you will be able to strengthen the unity of the country, to foster its economic development, and to lead it forward to the goal of full self-government within the Commonwealth, which is equally the aim of her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and of your Government." A public holiday was proclaimed on September 2 to mark the historical

occasion of the opening of the House of Representatives with the new executive. There as a formal procession from Government House to the House of Assembly to emphasise the importance of the occasion.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd has announced that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has accepted an invitation from the Governor-General of the Federa- tion of Nigeria, on behalf of the Federal Government, to visit Nigeria in November. The main purposes of her visit will be to open two of Nigeria's major institutions of higher education, namely, the Teaching Hospital at Ibadan and the Headquarters Branch at Zaria of the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, and also to be present at a service at Onitsha Cathedral to mark the centenary of the Diocese of the Niger. The new

17 Vol. 56



256 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

teaching hospital is closely associated with the University College of Nigeria, founded in 1948 with financial assistance from United Kingdom Colonial Development and Welfare (CD & W) funds. This was the first centre of university education in the territory, and during its early years it has entered into a special relationship with the University of London, by which students work for London degrees. Ultimately it is intended that the College shall apply for a charter under which full university status will be granted, with the right to confer its own degrees.

A COMMON roll which, besides ordinary voters, embraces also a special class of voter with a low income qualification, is recommended by the

Commission which has reported on the franchise laws of Southern Rhodesia. In certain circumstances the votes of these "special " voters, who, in effect, will be mainly Africans, can be fractional so as not to count more than half the total votes cast by voters with the ordinary qualification in the same

Rhodesian Franchise

constituency. The Commission does not recommend any alteration to the present citizenship and residence qualifications, which are: a voter must be a Rhodesian citizen over the age of 21

years and must have residence in the Colony for six months and in the electoral district for three months. But it does recommend an alteration to the present means and educational qualifications which are an income of ?20 a month, or occupation of property valued at ?500, an adequate knowledge of English and the ability to complete unaided the voter's enrolment form.

It recommends as qualifications for an "ordinary" vote an adequate knowledge of English. In addition the voter must have an income of ?60 a month or occupation of property valued at ?1,500 and the present tests of literacy ; an income of ?40 a month or occupation of property valued at ?1,000 and a standard six education; or an income of ?25 a month or occupation of property valued at ?500 and a form four education. Finally, it recommends a special lcw qualification of ?15 a month with the existing literacy tests. Votes in this category will be subject to reduction in value if they exceed one-third of the total votes cast in any constituency. The report suggests that all voters on the existing roll be placed on the new roll, and that delimitation commission be directed to delimit in such a manner that in any constituency not more than one-third of the voters shall be voters with the " special " qualification. The economic effect of the recom- mendations may be that many Africans who pass the Cambridge examination will be able to come on the common roll as " special" voters, as they will be able to earn a basic wage of ?16 a month in commerce, industry or in the Civil Service. The Commission accepts the precept that government must remain in the hands of the " civilised and responsible persons," in that, they say, a country is amply justified in making an endeavour to confine the franchise to those of its inhabitants who are capable of exercising it with " reason, judgment and public spirit." They say they are against backward and illiterate people having the vote.




The Commission opposes a universal adult franchise as there would be the danger of people without judgment exercising the vote. If introduced at present it would place the European minority in the hands of the African majority. It also opposes the system of multiple voting and any form of racial representation as, the Commission believes, the interests of the people as a whole are more important than any sectional interest. It rejects the suggestion that race or colour can be regarded as

ao satisfactory test of

civilisation or responsibility. The Commissioners say the time is not yet ready for the special representation of Africans in a Second Chamber of Parliament and in any case any method for the appointment of such special representatives other than election on a common roll, would be open to objection as racial representation.

The Federal Prime Minister, Sir Roy Welensky, has said that his Govern- ment has accepted the proposed dual-roll principle as the basis for the Federal Franchise Bill to be introduced later this year. Sir Roy said that qualifications for the upper roll would be an income of ?300 plus high educational qualifications, or ?720' plus lower educational qualifications. For the lower roll the qualification would be a minimum income of ?200 plus a moderate educational standard. There would be no racial bar to enrolment in either case. The upper roll would elect three-quarters of the members of the Assembly, and the voters on both rolls, voting together, would elect special African members.

The Federal and Southern Rhodesia franchise proposals have created controversy both in the Federation and in politically-minded circles in Britain. The simultaneous production of the two sets of suggested voting arrangements has not been without confusion. They are reproduced in their original form hereunder :

Federal

" A" Roll (i) Income of ?72o p.a. and literacy in

English. (2) Income of ?48o and primary education. (3) Income of ?3oo00 and Cambridge school

certificate (or equivalent).

"B " Roll Literacy in English and approximately ?2oo income.

N.B.- The " A "roll will elect 44 ordinary M.P.s. In addition, the " A " roll will join with " B" roll in electing 8 African M.P.s together with one European representing African interests.

Southern Rhodesia

Ordinary vote

(i) Income of ?720 or occupation of property valued at ?1,500oo plus literacy.

(2) Income of ?48o or occupation of property valued at ?i,ooo and Standard VI education.

(3) Income of ?3oo or occupation of property valued at ?5oo and Form IV education.

Special Vote (i) ?240o income with present tests of

literacy, or (ii) Standard VIII education plus two

years' continuous employment in a particular occupation.

When the second reading of the Southern Rhodesia Bill was taken an amendment to (ii) of the Special Vote qualification was inserted to provide a financial qualification of ?120 a year.



Church and State

258 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

NE of the most controversial pieces of apartheid legislation of the present session of the Union House of Assembly has been the " Church Clause

Bill "-so-called because one of its most hotly contested provisions aims at strictly regulating the attendance of non-Europeans at churches in European urban areas. The House of Assembly passed the third reading of the Native Laws Amendment Bill by 79 votes to 48 after the longest

debate of the session. The debate, which began before the Easter recess, lasted for 13 days, or nearly three weeks of Parliament's time. The Minister of Native Affairs, Dr. Verwoerd, replying

to the debate, said that when the Government considered it is duty to deal with certain evils, that duty had to be carried out notwithstanding any propaganda or suspicion that might be aroused.

It was quite clear that the church clause was concerned with certain social evils which might be created, and against which the people had the right to be protected. " It has nothing to do with the working of the Church. It has nothing to do with the freedom of religion and it has nothing to do with the sovereignty of the Church. I am convinced that it is in the interests of South Africa-and in the interests of both black and white--there should be separate churches." The clause was necessary to deal with certain social evils. If it was true as the Opposition argued that all these evils could be dealt with under existing legislation, then what was the objection to this legislation. It seemed to him that the Church was being used as a sort of fort from which political shots could be fired. It was of the utmost importance to South Africa to ensure that social integration was not allowed to develop. The possibility of the development of social integration by a general admixture in clubs and institutions and welfare associations was a danger in South Africa. (These matters are also dealt with in the Bill.)

The United Party was bound to forms of social integration that South Africa would not accept. He was completely in favour of welfare work amongst the native people, but that work must be taken over to an in- creasing extent by the natives themselves. The Minister said he did not accept for a moment the argument of the Opposition that the administrative clauses of the Bill would lead to an enormous increase in the number of statutory offenders. It was true that the natives could not know or remember all the laws and regulations to which they were subject, but that applied equally to the Europeans who still managed to lead lawful lives. It was the policy of his department to see that the difficulties of individual natives were sympathetically dealt with, and that proper advice and guidance were given to them. The applications of the administrative measures of the Bill would be to the advantage of the natives, while still observing the needs of the Europeans.

Referring to the church clause of the Bill, the Minister said that the Opposition had made a number of most irresponsible statements. Among other things he had been accused of interference with the Dutch Reformed Church deputation which he had interviewed because he had not referred




to all the eight points of the synod declaration. He could only say it was not the duty of the Minister in such a case to make public everything that went on. " My attitude is that the deputation which came to see me had said at the outset that they had with them a document which had been drawn up beforehand, but with which they were not completely satisfied and that it might be necessary to make certain alterations. Subsequently they published what they wanted published. The documents the deputation produced were not my documents. Was it expected of me that I should take these church documents and use them as I thought fit ? It was entirely a matter for the church whether they published these documents or not, just as they desired."

It was not necessary to maintain contact with the non-Europeans by means of joint meetings and gatherings. In South Africa a position could not be tolerated where all sorts of multi-racial organisations were established. This conflicted with apartheid. The debate on this Bill had placed the United Party and the Nationalist Party on two separate platforms. It was now very clear that the Nationalist Party was prepared to give the native leadership and to maintain contact with him as Christian guardian and leader, and to teach him to do things for himself. He would be encouraged to establish his own welfare organisations, Red Cross and health services. Contrary to what the Oppostion said, the Bill would not bring about clashes but only goodwill. The natives would be grateful for the opportunities created for them in their own organisations.

The Minister withdrew his original Bill after the Churches other than the Dutch Reformed one had protested in challenging terms to its provisions The main changes are as follows : (1) The onus will no longer be on churches to secure permission for natives to attend services. (2) The Minister will be able to prohibit any native from attending any church service or function in an urban area but he will have to give reasons and he will also have to secure the concurrence of the urban local authority concerned. (3) The Minister will be able to make the prohibition only if the natives in his opinion are being a nuisance to residents in the vicinity or in the area which they traverse to get to the church, or if "it is undesirable having regard to the locality in which the premises are situated that natives should be present on such premises in the numbers in which they ordinarily attend a service or function conducted thereat."

The effect of this amendment is that the churches themselves cannot commit and offence by admitting natives whom the Minister has prohibited from attending their services. Only the native himself commits the offence.

Before the Minister issues any notice prohibiting a native from attending a church service he must give the church concerned a reasonable time in which to. make representations to him and he must also have " due regard to the availability or otherwise of facilities for the holding of such service or function within a native residential area." A separate clause deals with schools, hospitals, clubs and similar institutions. It states that no person shall conduct such an institution on premises in an urban area and grant



260 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

admittance to natives unless the approval of the Minister and the urban local authority concerned are first obtained.

An exception is made for natives admitted to any hospital in the event of emergency. This clause applies only to institutions conducted "on those premises" after 1937. But a further clause entitles the Minister to prohibit any school, hospital, club or similar institution from admitting any native if, in his opinion, the presence of the natives on such premises or in any area they traverse constitutes a nuisance to residents in the vicinity, or if it is undesirable having regard to the locality in which the premises are situated that natives should be present in the number in which they ordinarily attend the institution, or if the institution is conducted in a way prejudicial to the public interest.

All over South Africa Bishops of the Anglican Church published pastoral letters calling clergy and members to defy the "church clause." The Coadjutor Bishop of Cape Town, the Right Rev. S. W. Lavis, Vicar-General of the Cape Town diocese, said there is no colour bar in any church in this diocese and that it has been customary to arrange special services in their own language for African men and women in convenient churches. This cannot be stopped without disloyalty to God. In his pastoral letter the Bishop of Johannesburg, the Rt. Rev. Ambrose Reeves, said it was intended to establish a fund to be used for the support of "those and their depend- ants who suffer penalties for their disobedience." The letter stated that from apostolic times the Church had insisted that Christians had a duty to obey the laws of the country in which they lived, but if any law conflicted either with the demands of the gospel or the dictates of conscience, members of the Church had no alternative but to disobey.

"After careful consideration, we are persuaded that the Native Laws Amendment Act is such a law and that, in particular, clause nine, sub-section seven (b) is a direct infringement of that freedom of worship which properly belongs to every individual irrespective of his race or colour. By this clause, the Minister (of Native Affairs) may direct that Africans shall cease attending any Church or religious service or Church function on premises situated in an urban area outside an African residential area, if the Minister considers either that such Africans are causing a nuisance or that their presence there is undesirable. Conscious of the gravity of our action, we call on all members of the Church of the Province of South Africa in our diocese to ignore completely this provision of the Native Laws Amendment Act. We direct that in every church under our jurisdiction Church people shall continue to gather for worship as they have been accustomed to do in past times. Fur- ther, if at any time the Minister decides to implement this clause in any or all of the churches in our diocese, in regard to any religious service or Church function, we call on our clergy and people to disobey his direction."

The Roman Catholic bishops of South Africa have decided to appeal urgently to all white South Africans to consider the "evils " of apartheid and seek to strive for an immediate change in the Government's racial policy before the country faces a "holocaust." The bishops, meeting in




Pretoria at the plenary session of the South African Catholic bishops conference, decided unanimously to maintain the Church's stand against apartheid. A statement released by the 25 bishops attending the conference descnribes apartheid as" blasphemous " and" a purpose dwarfing every other purpose, an end justifying any means."

The Bishops' statement said: " Many who suffer under the sting of apartheid find it hard to accept counsels of moderation. Embittered by insult and frustration, they distrust any policy that involves a gradual change. Revolution, not evolution, is the slogan of the sufferers. They can see redress only in the sweeping away of every difference and the immediate extension of full civil rights to all. They do not contemplate the confusion that would result-the collapse of all public order, the complete dissolution of society, and perhaps their own rapid destruction in the holocaust.

" But a change must come, otherwise our country faces a disastrous future. The time is short. The need is urgent. Those penalised by apartheid must be given concrete evidence of the change before it is too late." The change, the statement said, involved the elaboration of a sensible and just policy enabling any person, irrespective of race, to qualify for the enjoyment of full civil rights.

No South African Government could attempt such a change without the consent of the white citizens--on whose shoulders lay squarely the burden of responsibility. The Bishops concluded : "To all white South Africans we direct an earnest plea to consider fully what apartheid means--its evil and anti-Christian character, the injustices that flow from it, the resentment and bitterness it arouses, the harvest of disaster that it must produce in the country we all love so much."

THE Uganda Legislative Council has asked the British Government to approve the direct election of 18 African Representatives in the country

next year. The Council's decision followed a debate on a sessional paper in which the Uganda Protectorate put forward proposals for the direct election, in 1958, of the African representative members of the Uganda Protectorate Legislative Council. Attached to the paper is a report by a committee of the

Legislative Council, set up in July 1956, to consider the substance of proposals made by the Govern- ment for the introduction of elections for African representative members in 1957, and a joint

report by representatives of the Protectorate Government for the introduction of elections for African representative members in 1957, and a joint report by representatives of the Protectorate Government and the Buganda Government on arrangements for the election of Buganda members.

The sessional paper recalls that the Uganda Government's policy for the introduction of elections was set out in a statement by the then Governor, Sir Andrew Cohen, on April 24th, 1956. The statement envisaged that, if agreement were reached under the Buganda Agreement, 1955 on a system

Uganda Election Plans



262 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

of direct elections in Buganda, these elections might be used in 1957 as an experiment leading up to the introduction, in 1961, of direct elections on a common roll with suitable provision for the adequate and effective representation of the non-African communities, provided that arrangements acceptable to the United Kingdom Government could be recommended; and that, in 1957, the electoral arrangements in provinces outside Buganda should be left substantially as they are at present. The sessional paper reaffirms that the main objective of the Government is the introduction of the common roll in 1961, but states that the Government is prepared to modify its views about the timing of the introduction of direct elections for African representative members from outside Buganda as a result of discussions held throughout the Protectorate and because it is satisfied that it is preferable that these members should be elected on the same basis throughout the Protectorate. The introduction of direct elections in 1958 will necessitate prolonging the life of the present Legislative Council for a period long enough to allow the necessary legislative and administrative arrangements to be made.

The proposed qualifications of voters are as follows : 1. Every voter must be 21 or over, have a residential qualification in the

constituency and not be disqualified from voting. 2. In addition, every voter must have one of the following additional

qualifications: (a) be an owner or genuine occupier of land; or (b) able to read and write in the vernacular ; or (c) have long public service or long paid employment in agriculture,

commerce or industry; or (d) have an income of ?100 per annum or more, or property worth ?400 or

more. Candidates for election to the Legislative Council would be required to be

27 years of age or over ; able to speak, write and read English; a registered voter; and have an income of at least ?200 p.a., or property worth at least ?700.

A minority report signed by three members of the Legislative Council committee dissents from the view expressed in the committee's report that the non-African communities should be represented on the representative side of the Legislative Council when the common roll is introduced, and says that consideration of the details of the common roll should be left entirely to the new Legislative Council. The Legislative Council at present comprises 60 members, with the Governor as president. Thirty members sit on the Government side and 30 on the Representative side. Of the latter, 18 are Africans and 12 Europeans or Asians.

In a second motion taken at a later date it is proposed that approval be given to direct elections on a common roll in 1961. The Government has intimated that it regards both the election of the African Representatives and the principle behind the second motion as closely inter-related. In the debate on the first motion the Chief Secretary, Mr. C. H. Hartwell, said that the Government would not feel bound (except in the case of Buganda) to




implement the motion until the second one had been debated and the Government was satisfied that there was support from all sections oj the population for the Government's ultimate objective-which is common roll elections.

THE South African general election is to take place in April or May of the coming year, and the two main parties are now preparing for the

fray. The Opposition United Party meeting in congress at Bloemfontein has pledged itself to restore the Coloured voters to the common roll when it is returned to power. It has also proposed alterations in the size and composi- tion of the Senate designed to make the Upper House more representative

Union Election Preliminaries

of all sections. Commenting on the proposals the Leader of the United Party, Sir de Villiers Graaff, has characterised them as " the first attempt in South Africa's history to entrench white political

leadership." In the speech with which he opened the congress, Sir de Villiers said the party was not " seeking power to preside at the dissolution of the Western way of life in South Africa by handing over inordinate powers to those not fit to exercise them."

The principal changes in the Senate that a United Party Government would bring about are :

1. A House of about 50 European members representing Europeans, Col- oureds and natives, directly elected by the racial groups concerned. 2. A maximum of six Senators representing the natives to be elected directly by the " more responsible class of natives." 3. The number of Senators to represent the Coloureds has not been decided, but they will be elected by suitably qualified Coloured voters in the Cape, Natal, Free State and Trans- vaal. The Coloured voters in the Senate elections will be on a separate roll from European voters. 4. Three-quarters of the members of the Senate will represent European voters. European voters in each province will elect an equal number of Senators, and the elections will be on a proportional basis, ensuring that the views of the minorities are represented. 5. Procedural rules for the Senate will make it necessary for a Bill to be passed not only by a majority of all Senators, but also by a majority of those Senators representing Europeans. 6. Means of overcoming a deadlock between the Upper and Lower House have been formulated to ensure that non-European representation, supported by a "hostile group," cannot bring the parliamentary- machine to a standstill.

In addition to these constitutional reforms the congress agreed to restore those Coloured voters in the Cape Province and Natal who were affected by the 1951 legislation to the common roll. Future registrations on the common roll by Coloured would, however, be subjected to " higher and more stable qualifications." The precise nature of the new qualifications would be drawn up after consultation with the leaders of the Coloured people. The right of qualified Coloureds to vote on the common roll for elections to the House of



264 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

Assembly would not be extended to Coloureds in the Transvaal or the Free State.

The United Party can win the general election next year, the Leader of the Opposition said when he opened the congress. It would have to win back 20 seats from the Nationalists. That was a formidable task, but no greater than that which the Nationalists themselves had been faced with in 1948. Excluding the Cape Province, where the position was obscure because of the removal of Coloured voters from the common roll, 20 seats were held by Nationalists, in each of which a change in the allegiance of only 500 voters would give the United Party the victory. Delimitation might alter things, but it looked as though the party's task amounted to persuading only five additional voters in every 100 to vote for them. A feeling of insecurity has developed, there has been a change in the spiritual condition of the people. "Always a proud nation, we now find that the nations of the Western world who are competing with Communism for the minds of the non-white population of the world, feel that we are embarrassing them. We have lost our good name overseas." As a result, South Africa had ceased to be a magnet for risk capital or a mecca for immigrants.

The congress of the Nationalist Party will be held later, but leaders have already indicated that one of the lines they will take at the election is that this Government has brought "good times" to the man in the street. The attack on the United Party's programme of reform has been attacked by, among others, Mr. Strijdom, the Prime Minister, who called it " fantastic and diabolical."

The United Party is reported to be in good heart, but behind the facade of the party machine the individual members admit that they are facing a formidable opponent. Unless the tide of opinion has moved against the Government in secret the prediction of most commentators-that the Nationalists will be returned for a further term of five years-seems almost certain to be confirmed.



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