8 THE SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN QUESTION
ID strict accordance with the policy of degrading the Indian to the level of a raw Kaffir and, in the words of the Attorney- General of Natal, " that of preventing him from forming part of the future South African nation that is going to be built," the Natal Government laet year introduced their Bill to amend the Indian Immigration Law whiob, I regret to inform you, has received the Royal sanction in spite of our hopes to the contrary. This news was received after the Bombay meeting, and it will, therefore, be necessary for me bo deal with this question at some length, also because this question more immediately affects this Presidency and can be best studied here. Up to the I8bh day of August, 1694, the indentured immigrants went under a contract of service for five years in consideration for a free passage to Natal, free board and lodging for themselves and their families aud wages at the rate of ten shillings per month for the first year to be increased by one shil- ling every following year. They were also entitled to a free passage back to ludia, if they remained in the Colony another five years as free labourers. This is now changed, and, in future, the immigrants will have either to remain in the Colony for ever under indenture, their wages increasing to 20 shillings at the end of the 9fch year of indentured service, or to return to India or to pay an annual poll-tax of 3 sterling, equivalent to nearly half a year's earnings on the indentured scale. A Commission consisting of two members was sent to India in 1893 by the Natal Government to induce the Indian Government to agree to the above alterations with the exception of the imposition of the poll-tax. The present Viceroy, while expressing his reluctance, agreed to the alteration subject to the sanction of the Home Govern*
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