38 THE SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN QUESTION BAZAARS AND LOCATIONS Coming to Law 3 of 1885. it has been often urged that Indians, after the establishment of British Govern- ment in this country, have received relief with reference to trade licences. Nothing, however, can be farther from the truth. Before the war, we were able to trade any· where we liked, as against tender of payment for licence money. The long arm of the British Government was then strong enough to protect us, and up to the very eve of the war, in spite of the constant threats of the then Government to prosecute British Indians who were trading, no action was taken. It is true that now, owing tothe decision of the Supreme Court, Indian trade is unfettered but that is in spite of the Government. Up to the very last moment the Government declined to come to the rescue and a notice was published called the "Bazaars Notice," which stated that, after a certain date, every Indian who did not hold a licence to trade at the outbreak of war outside locations, would be expected not only to remove to locations. but to trade there also. After the notice was published locations were established in almost every town, and when every effort to get justice at the hands of the Government was exhausted, as a last resort it was decided to test the matter in a Court of Law. The whole of the Government machinery was then set in motion against us. Before the war a similar case was fought, and the British Government aided the Indians to seek an interpretation of the law, which we have now received from the present Supreme Court. After the establishment of the British G0vern· ment, all these forces were against us. It is a cruel irony of fate, and there is no use disguieing the fact that we have felt it most keenly, and this, I may state, `aa
