The Rev. C. Phillips, formerly of Johannesburg, replies with great
force in Tuesday's Daily News to Mr. Cronwright- Schreiner's invidious comparisons of the treatment of natives in Cape Colony and the Transvaal. As for the Manifesto of the Dutch Reformed Church, while admitting that some of its ministers are deeply interested in mission work, Mr. Phillips declares that its missionaries are a distinct and inferior class of men, and are seldom allowed to ascend a Dutch Reformed pulpit, while no native is allowed to be educated as a missionary. Matters are even worse in the " Dopper" Church in the Transvaal, where less than two years ago any office-bearer or member was threatened with excommunica- tion who should do anything for the evangelisation of the natives. Coming to the fundamental policy of the two Governments, Mr. Phillips points out that in Cape Colony (1) colour makes no difference whether in Church or State, (2) the natives can walk where they like, (3) can trade on the same conditions as Boer and British, (4) can own land, (5) can marry by the Marriage Law, which applies to all classes alike, and without paying any Government fee, (6) can obtain a grant for every properly-conducted school, 7) can enjoy the franchise on the same conditions as the whites. In six out of the seven points enumerated above the Trans- The only respect in which the Transvaal system is apparently better than that of the Cape is in regard to the Liquor Law, but this law, according to Mr. Phillips, is practically a dead letter. vaal Grondwet denies the facilities allowed at the Cape, and in the case of marriage hedges it round with im- practicable restrictions. We may add that it is a matter of common knowledge that the adoption of a liberal policy in the Cape has invariably been due to the British element.
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