Grondtoekenning en landlike vestiging in die Oranjerivierkolonie/Oranje-Vrystaat, 1900 - 1912.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Hierdie artikel weerlê die wanopvatting dat lord Alfred Milner se skema van landelike vestiging in die Oranjerivierkolonie 'n finansiële en landbou-kundige mislukking was. Die Britse setlaars was waarskynlik finansieel en materieel beter daaraan toe as die meeste Afrikanerboere wat deur die Tweede Anglo-Boereoorlog (1899 - 1902) geruïneer is. Daar moet nietemin toegegee word dat Milner se imperialistiese motief om die Britse element deur die skema te vermeerder en sodoende te verhinder dat die landelike gebiede uitsluitlik in Afrikanerhande bly, nie naastenby aan sy verwagtinge voldoen het nie. Teen 1912 was daar naamlik sowat 40 000 Afrikanerboere teenoor die 546 setlaars in die betrokke distrikte.

• Summary: This article refutes the misconception that Lord Alfred Milner's land settlement scheme in the Orange River Colony was a financial and agricultural disaster. The British settlers probably received more privileges, financially and materially, than did the Afrikaner farmers who were ruined by the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899 - 1902). It should be conceded, however, that Milner's imperialistic motive to increase the British element by way of the land settlement scheme to prevent the rural areas from remaining solely in Afrikaner hands, did not materialize to the extent envisaged by him. By 1912 the settlers numbered 546, in comparison with the approximately 40 000 Afrikaner farmers in the districts concerned.