J. S. Marwick became, in 1916, the first manager for the Durban Municipal Native Affairs Department. He was responsible for the implementation of what came to be known as the "Durban System" of urban African administration, which later became the model for the rest of South Africa. S. G. Rich taught at Adams College, Amanzimtoti, in the teacher training division. His article, "Notes on Natal", was published in the "International Socialist Review" in June 1917. It represents an early attempt to apply socialist theory to conditions in Natal. The interest of each piece is enhanced by the contrast between them, especially as Marwick was aware of Rich's article and commented on it, very unfavourably, in his lecture.