1066 ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION [PART V

§ 5. SourH Arrica
In the case of South Africa the problem of the treatment
of the native race was elaborately solved in the period 1850-3,
when the representative constitution was granted, by providing
 that the natives should have the electoral franchise
on precisely the same conditions as Europeans. This principle
 has not been substantially departed from since, though
it was modified in 1892 by the Rhodes Ministry in accordance
with Rhodes’ doctrine of equal rights for equal civilisation
to the extent of securing that mere qualification in respect
of property through a tribal tenure should not be sufficient
to entitle a native to the vote, thus excluding from the
suffrage the uncivilized Kaffir. Moreover, the requirement
that the elector shall be able to sign his name secures that
a certain minimum of education shall exist. Subject to
these restrictions, the fairness of which is obvious, the native
vote has been unrestricted, and in 1909 there were about
22,000 voters. The results have been equally satisfactory.
It is true that objection! has been felt to the fact that on
the native vote in the several constituencies in which it is
important might depend the decision as to those seats, and
ultimately the fate of one or other of the great parties, but
on the whole the native vote has served admirably its purpose
of securing that no anti-native legislation shall be passed.
In the case of Natal, where the franchise was practically
denied, being made dependent on almost impossibly
stringent conditions and on the approval of the Governor in
Council, it was deliberately intended to secure for the Governor
 an independent position with regard to measures affecting
the native population ; but whereas in the case of Western
Australia the position was not absolutely impossible, inasmuch
 as he was provided with an Aborigines Board which
could exercise a considerable executive authority, and could
' See Parl. Pap., Cd. 2399, pp. 65seq., for views of Native Affairs
Commission of 1903-5. For recent progress, see Cape Parl. Pap., A. 2
and G. 19,1909 ; G. 26, 1910. Cf. also Wilmot, South Africa, ii. 173 seq.,
196 seq. ; iil, 22 seq., 36; Vindex, Cecil Rhodes, pp. 361 seq.
* Cf. Parl. Pap., Cd. 2399, pp. 31, 65 seq.