Gandhi Suspends South African Struggle After Winning Passage of the Indian Relief Act

The treatment of Indians had reached pathetic limits.

The prisons were too small to house the resisters. Mr Hult, a mine manager had flogged 300 Indian prisoners placed under his custody. By now the movement had reached a crisis point and drew attention in both the local and international press. As a result of the strikes, the Solomon Commission was appointed to look into the cause of the disturbances. The findings of the Commission led to the passing of the Indian Relief Act (Act no. 22 of 1914) which made provision for:
- the abolishment of the 3 pound tax;
- the legalisation of marriages conducted according to Indian rites:
- the relaxation of the immigration laws;
- All resisters were to be pardoned.

June 26, Indian Relief Bill was passed by Union Senate. The passage of the Bill ended a struggle of eight years' duration. The Act was considered as mutually satisfactory and honourable settlement of the problems raised by the passive resistance movement.