Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/222

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132 INDIANS IN THE COLONIES

bears the proportion of about 1 : 2,002 of the native population. In Canada there are now about 3,000 Indiana in a total population of 8,000,000. A 1 : ratio 1,000 ae suggested would, therefore, permit bha Indian colony in Canada to be increased by about 5,000. In Australia there are rather more than 5,000 Indiana, and under 5,000,000 white men at present?, but the excess over the 1 : i.OOO ratio la trifling. In Naw Zealand, where there are about 1 : 250 Indians, this ratio is almost exactly conformed fco by the exiating situation. South Africa presents a~ difficulty since the South African Indians already exceed a proportion of one to ten of the white residents. But South Africa diifars from its sister Dominions, since it is the only one whioh has a native population of more than negligible size. The Indian sec- tion of the composite racial problem pre&ented by the IToion might perhaps be adjusted somewhat by offering inducements to South African ladians to transfer them- selves to Bast Africa. The conferring of full political rights on the small Indian communities domiciled in the Dominions would then be the only step necessary to meet every legitimate aspiration of Indians for equality of treatment! and the recognition of their claims as British subjects.

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