International Boer
Sir: In his review of the second volume of Sir Keith Hancock's life of Field Marshal Smuts (23 February) Sir Robert Birley states a propos of Bantu education, 'The return to the old system [i.e. of financing it) in 1953 has done more to cripple the Africans than any other decision of the Nationalist government during its twenty 'years of rule' Actually the new system of financing Bantu education was finally decided by the two Acts of Parliament of 1955 and 1966, but this is a small point.
There is a danger, sir, that because the author of the statement is a distinguished ex-headmaSter of Eton, it may be accepted as a statement of. fact, when, in reality, it is a statement of opinion only —an opinion formed after three years' residence in South Africa.
One need not believe the present method of financing Bantu education in South Africa is satis- factory, one may even believe it is far from Satis- factory, but if the statement that it has 'done more to cripple the Africans than any other dccision of the Nationalist government during its twenty years of rule' is true then the present government's treat- ment of the African is much better than we are always being persuaded to believe.
G. W. Sneesby 5 Mowbray Gardens, West Bridgford, Nottingham
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