th-9 'hM B/1J3 zzaAH EA D OFFICE * 1 '

South African Labour Party Suid-Afrikaanse Arbeidsparty

HEAD OFFICE . *32 kerk Street

Phone 3 3 - 5 9 0 l ' 3 4 4 1

P . O . B o x 2 8 6 4

Telegrams.- “ SALPO"

All correspondence to be addressed to the

Qeneral SecretaryJOHANNESBURG

HOOFKANTOOR

KERKSTRAAT 32

FOON 3 3 - 5 9 0 1 ' 3 4 4 1

P . K. B u s 2 8 6 4

T e l e g r a m m e “ SALPO”

Alle korrespondensie mnet aan die Algemene

Sskretarts gerig word

NON-EURO HEM FRANCHISE POLICY.

The Forty-Third Annual Conference of the South African Labour Party, held at Durban* in November, 1953s instructed the National Executive Council to revise and restate the Party’ s policy in regard to the franchise of the non-Europeans.

The follov/ing now becomes the official policy of the Labour Party.

The ouestion of the right of representation of the non-Europeans in South Africa can no longer be evaded by the Europeans. It is futile for one section of the population to attempt to legislate for the whole population without giving the other section some voice in the formulation of measures designed for the order and good government of the whole of South African society,

The Labour Party is opposed to the diminution? curtailment or disqualification of any franchise rights presently enjoyed by any section of the population, with particular reference to the Coloured* African and Asiatic voters in the Cape.

The Labour Party therefore declares that as a matter of principle it accepts the universal franchise for all adult literate inhabitants, but, realising the need for the implementation of the franchise for the non-Europeans in stages, it advocates the follov/ing franchise reforms’

COLOUPED VOTEjRS.

i) The provisions applicable to the Coloured voters in the Cape should be extended to the other provinces for Parliamentary, Provincial and Municipal elections.

ii) The franchise to be applicable to both males and females.

iii ) No disqualification on the grounds of colour shall debar Coloured candidates from electionto Parliament, Provincial Councils or Town Councils.

AFP-ICAN VOTERS.

i) At present, Africans in the Cape, on a literacyand property test, elect three members of Parliament to represent them in the Union

/Parliament........

non-European Franchise Policy (ctd .)

Parliament. This right should be extended to permit of the election of three members of Parliament for the Transvaal, end two each for Natal and the Orange Free State.

ii) Similar representation to be available for the Provincial Councils, i . e . , three each for the Cape Province and the Transvaal, and two each for Natal and the Orange Free State.

i i i ) Eight Senators should be elected, two from each Province; the present four nominated senatorships shall be abolished. Elections for Senators should be the same as for members of Parliament and members of Provincial Councils.

iv) Qualification for .African voters for the Transvaal, Natal and the Orange Free State to be based on literacy - Std. V.

v) Franchise rights to be available for males and female s.

vi) In municipalities, Africans residing in their separate wards should elect a number of Town Councillors equivalent to, say, 10% of the^ total number of councillors for each municipality. There should be an easy qualification, based on the ability to read and write, and twelve months’ residence.

vii) African candidates should not be disqualified on the ground of colour from being elected as the representatives of their people.

ASIATIC VOTERS IN THE CAPE, TRANSVAAL, AND ORANGE FREE STATE..

In the Cape, Asiatics have the sane franchise rights as Coloured persons. These rights should be extended to the Transvaal and the Orange Free State as provided for under "COLOURED VOTERS" above.

ASIATIC VOTERS IN NATAL.

Our present laws confine Natal Indians to that province. This results in a concentration of Indians which aggravates racial prejudice and causes the Europeans to withhold franchise rights from them.The South African Labour Party is opposed to laws restricting the movement of Indians in the Union.

i) Under existing circumstances, we propose that Indians in Natal should have the right to elect three members of Parliament, three members of the I^ovincial Council and two Senators.

ii) Franchise rights to be available to males and females.

ii i ) Indian candidates should not be disqualified on the grounds of colour from being elected as Indian representatives*

iv) In municipalities.- Indians should elect

/membera of.. ,

non-European Franchise Policy ( e t a . )

members of Town Councils to: say, an equivalent of 10$ of the total number of Town Councillors for each municipality.

SOUTH-WEST AFRICA.

Coloured people, A siatics and Africans of South- West Africa should be treated on the same basis as laid down in the proposals for the four provinces of the Union.

CONCLUSION•

It is one thing for a political party to recognise colour prejudice as a social fact. It is quite another to use it as a pretext for extending injustice and inhumanity as practised in the past. The Labour Party sets its face resolutely against these practices. Policies based on fear and hostility merely create fear and hostility.

Our programme is transitionary and is not intended to remain static. As socialists, we recognise the ̂continuous and progressive development of human society.On this basis, we accept that our policy will be subject to such revision as the progress of the non-European m the cultural and industrial spheres may justify.

Issued by the National Chairman of the South African Labour Party, 32, Kerk Street, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, 19th January, 195̂ 4 -

&SOUTH AFRICAN LABOUR PARTY

NON-EUROPEAN POLICY.

AN APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE AND HUMANITY.

The South African Labour Par|by makes an earnest appeal to the European electorate of South Africa to discard prejudices and fears in dealing with the Non-European. What is needed is the adoption of an enlightened outlook towards the Non-European population and a recognition that co-operation between the races is the onlv nolicv that can further ^ •5Ejj§'"mutual interests of the entire South African community. f ——-

Peaceful co-operation between the white and black in South Africa is of such vital importance to every European and Non-European in South Africa,that no effort should be spared to understand what prevents it, and to remove all obstacles to its achievement,

ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION.

*The Labour Party believes that one of the roots of racial friction is economic exploitation. A social system has been created in the Union,

V fortified by a network of repressive laws, so as to provide native labour at the cheapest rate,and so as to keep it cheap and docile.

This system has the most shocking social effects. It accounts for lack of proper housing, under-nourishment, a high infant mortality rate, a low standard of education, a growing prison population and other social evils. It also accounts for a deep sense of discontent and frustration among our Non-European population,and because this system has hitherto been supported by the mass of the European electorate, the discontent is in danger of being channelled against Europeans in general instead

n of merely against European groups of exploiters. Working people can have no real interest or profit in supporting such a system, and only do so because they are blinded by dangerous racial propaganda from

understanding the real motives behind it#

The following programme is intended to diminish the evils of economic exploitation and to create the basis for goodwill and co-operation:

HELP THEM TO HELP THEMSELVES

The traditional method adopted by workers to improve their conditions of work and wages is through the institution known as the trade union. Trade Unions, by establishing the right of collective bargaining and

the right to strike, have out down the shocking exploitation of European workers which used to be prevalent. Our industrial laws exclude most Non-Europeans from these rights.

i, 1. The Labour Party advocates the inclusion of all workers in [[ the definition of "employee'* in the Industrial Conciliation Act.

Existing Trade Unions shall have the unfettered right to decide whether to admit Non-Europeans to membership or to leave them to form their own trade unions in any industry

or trade.

INCREASE NATIONAL WEALTH

If the total wealth produced by all workers in South Africa remains the same, the share of one group cannot be increased without taking avvay something from other groups.

But if the total is increased, then there can be a larger slice for everyone.

There is only one way to raise the present low over-all nationalwealth, and that is to increase the productivity of all workersand ensure the continued expansion of industry, agriculture and mining#

2* The Labour Party, therefore, advocates the training of Non-Europeans to play their part according to each man’ s ability in factory, farm and mine, with the following; safeguards:

(a) To ensure that European workers need not fear ousting ' from their jobs - security of employment at standard

rates of pay shall be guaranteed by law,

\ (b) To ensure that employers do not exploit Non-European \ labour - no employer shall be permitted to pay a

lower rate for the same work on the ground of colour.

FREE LABOUR

Pass Laws, Master and Servant Laws, the Native Labour Regulation Act, and other measures prevent natives from selling their labour in the best

market# If they try to do so they are gaoled# These laws are motivated by economic greed and serve to breed discontent and violence.

3. The Labour Party advocates tho abolition of all criminal penalties presently attaching to natives in relation to their right to obtain the best employment and to their free movement in order to do so.

HOMES

No housing and bad housing are one of the scandals of our urban areas. Disease, crime and disorder are the social symptoms.

4. The Labour Party advocates a plan to provide decent houses at reasonable rentals in all urban areas over a five year period as priority No. 1 in Municipal budgets# Government funds shall be allocated accordingly.

LOCAL RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION

The emphasis placed by the main political parties on the negative aspect of housing, namely segregation, results in slums and shanty towns for our Africans. The Labour Party places the emphasis on the positive aspect - the building of much needed houses.

Local residential segregation can be achieved by the erection of

townships for Non-Europeans without the necessity of tyrannical legislation of a negative kind. The facts of the situation are the key to this problem. Such of our natives in the urban areas who have houses live in their own areas. Ihose who have no houses would gladly occupy houses in townships created for them.

5» To implement a policy of local residential segregation one has the choice of using the policeman or the builder,The Labour Party prefers to use the builder.

REHABILITATION OF THE NATIVE RESERVES

A little over a third of the native population live in the reserves, which constitute about 10% of the land of the Union.

Every official report speaks of these areas as congested, denuded,

overstocked and eroded. The poverty and stagnation of the reserves impel its inhabitants to seek a livelihood in the towns, where despite bad housing and other evils, they are comparatively much better off.

It is futile therefore, to talk of returning the rest of the native population to the reserves which cannot support even the present numbers who live there - apart from the reason that the economy of the rest of South Africa would be completely disrupted. The disciples of "Apartheid" are in this respect indulging in idle and misleading day-dreams.

6, The Labour Party advocates a planned policy adequately

financed of irrigation, soil conservation, training in modern and mechanised farming, establishment of home industries and model villages,not in order to bring back millions to the reserves, but to improve the condition of the present population and to make them efficient producers of food for themselves> as well as for the needs of the rest of the country.

NATIVES ON FARMS

European farmers complain about shortage of native labour. This complaint is not new0 Mention of it is made in official reports over the last hundred years., The Mining industry also complains of a shortage of native labour* This need for native labour on farm, mine and factory, has drawn millions of natives from their reserves. Why is the shortage felt most on farms? All economic surveys are clear that natives in farms receive the lowest wages and the least amenities compared to natives employed in mines and factories. In order to off-set these disadvantages, the traditional method has been to pass laws to make it more difficult

for natives to get employment in mining and industry. Master and Servant laws bind the native to the farm. Farm gaols are set up for this purpose, but none of these restrictive laws really help because none of them tackle the real cause of the difficulty.

The answer lies in more efficient farming - more mechanised fsrms and

better trained native agricultural labourers who could demand better wages and better amenities.

7# The Labour Party advocates:

(a) That the proper training of native agricultural labourers be a State responsibility going hand in hand with the encouragement of improved farming methods.

(b) Turn farm gaols into free agricultural training centres.

(c) Fix a minimum wage for farm labourers.

(d) Abolish the present provisions of Master and Servant Ordinances.

EDUCATION

The Labour Party accepts the recommendations made by the Social and Economic Planning Council on this subject in its report No. 13.

8. The Labcur Party advocates the following policy in regard to ?■<on-.European education:

(a) Primary education should be made free and compulsory in the

large urban centres for the great majority of nonEuropean children from age 7 to 14 as part of a long-term plan of development, particularly with a view to combating .juvenile delinquency;

(b) The school curricula should be revised to meet changing needs?

(c) The closer integration of general vocational instruction into the curriculum of the ordinary schools should receive early consideration.

This programme implies, inter alia:-

(i) greatly increased funds for non-European, especially Native - education, an indispensable investment in the economic future of the country as a whole;

(ii) a greatly expanded educational building programme;

(iii) early provision for training more teachers and for attracting larger numbers to the profession by an improvement of working conditions.

Finally^ care must be taken to ensure that the extension of education does

not merely result in the erection of a class with a smattering of knowledge, a dislike for manual work, and a lack of suitable omployment. To avoid this it is necessary not only that curricula should be carefully planned, but also that avenues of employment should be provided which are adapted to the rising educational level of the non-Europeans, so that suitable jobs are available in which the best use may be made of their enhanced productive powers, to the benefit of the nation as a whole.

POLITICAL REPRESENTATION

The question of the right of representation of the Non-Europeans in South

Africa can no longer be evaded. It is futile for one section of the population to attempt to legislate for the whole population without giving the other section some voice in the formulation of measures designed for the order and good government of the whole of South African society. To extend the vote indiscriminally to vast numbers of persons who are lacking in education and who are inexperienced in the workings of democratic institutions would be unwise. To with-hold it permanently from all persons, even those fitted to

exercise it, merely on the ground of differences in skin colour,is unjust.

9. The Labour Party advocates the following:-

' (a) retention of the present franchise rights of Non-Europeans in the Cape Province;

(b) the right to vote to be given to all adult male Non-Europeans in other provinces on the basis of a literacy tost - qualification Standard VI.

(c) representation should consist of three European representatives

each from the Capo and Transvaal, and two each for Natal and O.F.S. to Parliament, with the same number of representatives on each Provincial Council,and a qualified direct representation on town and village councils, as in the Cape Province.

CONCLUSION

It is one thing for a political party to recognise colour prejudice as a

social ;fact. It is quite another to use it as a pretext for extending injustice and inhumanity as has been the case with the old policies as practised in the past. The Labour Party sets its face resolutely againstthese practices. Policies based upon fear and hostility merely create more fear and hostility.

Our Programme is not intended to remain permanent or static. As socialists

we recognise the continuous and progressive development of human society.On this basis we accept that our Policy will be subject to such revision

which the progress of the African in the cultural and industrial spheres will influence.

10th January 1955,

SOUTHERN

R H O D E S I A L A B O U R P A R T Y

P.O . Box 814

Phone 22572 Salisbury 15th December, 1952S. Rhodesia-

The R t . Hon. Sir G.M. Huggins,C .H ., K .C .M .G ., F .R .C .S ., M .P . ,

The House of Commons,LONDON. ENGLAND.

Sir,

On behalf of the S .R .L .P . , my National Executive wish me to address this letter to you before the opening of the London Conference on Federation in January.

If there is value in the great debate on Federation that value lies in the recognition of " the danger from the South" and its policy of Apartheid, and in the acceptance at government level of economic and political partnership between the races as being the only way out of our problems.

Despite the suddenness with which Federation was presented as an urgent matter, we had hoped that a genuine effort would be made at defining partnership and deciding the stages by which it would progressively be brought into operation. That this has not been done is not an indication of lack of sincerity originally on the part of the principal sponsors in this country, but of their ignorance as to the unpreparedness of the Europeans, that is the bulk of the electorate, to underwrite such a tremendous departure from the principle of white supremacy. From this lack of appreciation, we believe, springs the predica­ment in which the supporters of federation find themselves today, whereby the more one talks about integration and partnership between the races the more likely it is that federation will not be endorsed by the electorate. Moreover such an endorsement is now only possible provided the idea of economic and political partnership is played down; played down that is , to such an extent that the electorate is convinced that no real departure from the present policy w ill, in fact occur, should federation take place.

In these circumstances, it is not surprising that the Africans, who started by viewing federation with fear and suspicion, have become increasingly intransigent in their opposition to the scheme. It is , therefore, with regret that we recall our warning to you contained in our letter dated the 4th of September, 1951 •

"We would repeat, that in considering a policy of economic and political partnership it is essential that the extent of that partnership be clearly defined from the beginning. In this way the fears and suspicions so far all too frequently shown in public debate and comment on Federation by all races, would be dispelled," And again "In our view this failure, if persisted in in your deliberations will bring in its train a worsening in race relations which by comparison, would make the status quo a much happier state of a ffa irs ."

view of the fears and suspicions aroused by the Federal Scheme and the grave dangers involved in forcing it on unwilling Africans, we would request you to postpone federation for a number of years. During this time, if concrete measure? are carried out to prove the difference between your policy and that of white supremacy, race relations should improve to such an extent that a proposal for federation would be discussed in a favourable atmosphere.

For such concrete measures to be adopted it would be necessary to prepare the ground by educating the electorate to convince them of the need and wisdom of the policy of economic and political partnership between the races. We would be unrealistic in assuming that you and your Party would be given a mandate to attempt this as the government of the country. However, should you and your Party undertake this vital task, which would mean going into opposition for a number of years, this would be the first real attempt to solve the problems of a multi-racial society. Further, we sincerely believe that it would constitute by far the most important contribution any individual or party could now make for the peace and happiness of this colony.

• j The following are our recommendations, which we feel, if carried out, would go a long way towards proving the good faith of uropean intentions of real political and economic partnership.

1. We suggest that the franchise be safeguarded on the

eluality« qualifications should be modifiedliL 5 non-Europeans to have some hope of obtaining the vote in +>,? foreseeable future. When these qualifications were amended his Party pointed out that only a few Africans could hope to

qualify and responsible Africans whom thoughtful citizens hoped would be encouraged to lead their people, such as teachers and ministers of religion, were almost totally excluded.

2. A new Trade Union Act ensuring full rights for all people should be introduced at an early date.

., discriminatory legislation should be revised whetherit be direct or indirect.

4. More rapid provision should be made for Africans+y resident in S. Rhodesia to acquire their own homes on

I r8^ e it h e r rural, or urban, i f they wish. Added to which they should be able to purchase their own premises for business m the urban areas.

-in -d, -u?'̂ ir"taer ?Penings should be made available for Africans i” £ Public Services. At present, although a formidable list

these openings, in actual fact there are few other than those for messengers, orderlies and drivers. The salary scales of teachers should be revised to enable the Service to

+ mQX3l ^h° are fre<iuently drawn off into industry by the attraction of better remuneration.

tionq' woni thatTthe accePtance of the foregoing recommenda­tions would play a real and convincing part in paving the way fora full and genuine partnership which we most earnestly believe tobe the only solution for the people of Central Africa.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

P.M. LOVERIDGE

Hon. Secretary SOUTHERN RHODESIA LABOUR PARTY.

Collection Number: AD1715

SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF RACE RELATIONS (SAIRR), 1892-1974

PUBLISHER: Collection Funder:- Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation

Publisher:- Historical Papers Research Archive

Location:- Johannesburg

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