470
SIR ERNEST OPPENHEIMER
therefore,
that the relative position of white and black labour in the Rhodesias
should become a subject of discussion and of agitation. The question of
'African advancement' on the Copperbclt was a subject with which Ernest
Oppenheimer was bound to concern himself, in due course.
The
position of an employer on labour issues is never an easy one even
where labour is uni-racial; it is all too easy in a multi-racial
society to attack him whenever he is in favour of some modification of
the de facto position in favour of the lesser privileged, and
to prejudice the discussion by insinuating that he is ready to
sacrifice white labour 'rights' for merely selfish, profit-making ends.
In Ernest Oppcnheimcr's case, he had as a background the experiences of
the Rand Revolution (it was very little else) of 1922, and his
experience of Kimberley, where the 'compound system' was first tried
out. He was also a Member of Parliament, and it was in connexion with
the discussion of the amending bill to the Mines and Works Act of 1911,
during the course of the parliamentary session of 1926, that he first
expressed himself on the subject of the colour bar. At that time
proposed legislation restored the status quo ante which had been upset by a legal decision. Ernest Oppenheimer opposed the restoration of the colour bar
for
the reason that I object to class legislation of any kind. There is
good feeling between Europeans, Natives and Coloureds in my
constituency, and anyone who has seen this cannot be in favour of
legislation which deprives one section of the community of its chance
to progress. If the colour bar had not existed in Johannesburg the
strikes and trouble there would not have occurred. A good sentiment is
created by the absence of the colour bar and by the European worker
relying on his efficiency only and not being frightened to compete with
any worker. . . .
...
I represent a constituency which has a very large Coloured vote, and it
would be impossible for me to take, say, five hundred Coloured men from
Kimberley and to put them in positions held by Europeans in
Johannesburg. The Coloured men of Kimberley are sufficiently wise to
realize that position. The Rand mining industry has been built up by
European overseers assisted by Native labour and this bill will not
alter that position. . . . The white man has not been displaced on the
Rand gold-fields, and he cannot be displaced; in fact, the tendency of
the industry is to employ more Europeans, and as far as I have
influence the tendency will continue in that direction. . . .
This was long before the Second World War and long before the question of 'African advancement' had become acute on the Copper-
