St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-05-19

On the Otner nand, some or
the interest of progress from a
readily understood by the AfriC
Included among changes Of
ment of the pass laws, new laws
enabling Africans to buy land on
a freehold basis in urban areas,
and gains in employment - partic-
ularly in the railway and airway
industries.
Peculiarities with regard to tax
alton and cattle ownership fall in
the negative category.
For the first time in 40 years,
in Southern Rhodesia are
free of the indignity of having to
carry half a dozen different docu-
ments required under the old Pass
Laws. The Pass Laws (RepeaD
Act, finally approved by the AS
sembly on November IA, of last
year, has now been brought into
force. Africans now are required to
known as a "sit-upa."
the measure was passed
carry only one document which is
Pass Law system has been re-
tanned solely because there is no
other way Of establishing identit-
les. Unlike Europeans, Africans
do not have to register births,
deaths and marriages.
The documents discarded I'M
der the new system include town
passes, passes to seek work, WIS.,
iting passes and virtual curfew
passes.
The new legislation enabling AZ
ricans to buy land in urban areas
has been hailed as The African
Magma Carta." Already imple-
without opposition from those who
were expected to protest-the right
wing extremist groups.
This new law, coupled with the
abolition of the Pass Laws, means
that quietly something close to
social revolution has happened in
this country recently.
However, the right to buy land
does not signify full Indignation of
the races. Africans cannot, yet buy
land in an exclusively white area.
But they do have a foothold. They
can buy land in urban areas set
aside from Africans.
In Salisbury, for example, this
means they can own land within
some four or five miles of the
heart of the country's capital
They can, in short, own some
part of the country in which they
live. Probably, the next step will
be the creation Of mixed areas"
where white and black will be able
to live side by side. And eventually
the time must come when the
black man will be able to buy any
where. When that happens the bar
riers will be down completely.
Before passage of the law the
nearest Africans came to actual
ownership was in the rural IRE
serve areas where, land formerly
used continually by whole tribes
was split into small, seven-acre
farms for individuals.
The African population now
numbers 2,S7O,0O0. Already there
is an excess in the native areas
las they are called Of 100000
families, the bulk Of whom must
seek their livelihood in the towns.
In addition, $4,000 more are COM
ing onto the labor market every
year.
Since a decision last June by
RhOdesia Railways to accept
qualified persons for work, re-
gardless Of race or color, 15,OS9
applications for jobs have been
made - and by far the majority
are from Africans.
So far 461 men have been hired
under the new training scheme.
OF this, 275 are Europeans, 1873
Africans, IA Asians and "a col
oreds. An additional 80 have be-
gun, shunter-fireman courses. OF
this number 20 are Africans, seven
Europeans and five coloreds.
A pilot scheme by Central Az
rican Anyways, designed to train
the best, regardless of race" for
senior executive posts, has been
regarded as another breakthrough
into multi-racialism.
Recently the airllnes made an
appeal to schools throughout the
country, both African and Eur
Opean, inviting graduates to ap-
ply for a fOur-year course Of
training which would lead to
senior executive and other re-
spOnsible positions.
Four young Africans and seven
Europeans have taken advantage
of the program. All will get the
same rate of pay-$1 800 a year
(about 81, 400 in training, the same
privileges, the same conditions and
leave, and the same opportunities
on completion of their training.
In spite of restocking measures
carried on by the government, the
number of cattle owned by Afri'
cans is increasing year by year
and it is giving the government one
of the biggest headaches it has haG
for years.
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