POLITICAL PARTIES IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11525, 6 March 1903, Page 5

POLITICAL PARTIES IN SOUTH AFRICA.

A VISITOR'S VIEWS.

(F.COM A COKRESrOXDQfT.) WELLINGTON, March 5. In the course of an interview, Councillor Wyllie, of Capetown, speaking of reconciliation in South Africa, said the Afrikander Bond practically constitutes the whole of the opposition to reconciliation. It compriees the Dutch population, who are tne owners of land, and the yeomen of the country, and they seem to* keep together in politics.

"I know Mr Hofmeyr very intimately, , * said Cγ. Wyllie. "Hβ ie a very fine old gentleman, and* I believe, ie thoroughly fiin cere in his assurances aa to the action of the Bond. What he hu said will have very great -weight with the Dutch community, and, of necessity, with toe members of the Bond, which has a slight majority in the Cape Parliament. TTie objection to Sir J. G. Sprigg ie thie. Hβ is getting along in yeare, and is a mm who cite on the fence a good deal. Hβ finds that he 'cannot cany on Government with the Progressive or British party alone, so he must cater to some extent to the Dutch element, in order to have a majority. If we were oonnting heads in Cape Colony the British would be in the majority, but the present distribution of seata gives the Dutch a majority. I "I think the antipathy that exiete be-! tween the Dutch and Bri'tiuh races in Cape Colony is -very much exaggerated in the mind* of outsiders. It has never appeared to me, who live amongst the Dutch, tjiat the feeling is so bitter as it appears to people in these colonies. The language question militates against an understanding more than anything else. It will take many decades before the Dutch and English think alike on important political queetions, bat the time is surely coming when they will be one homogenous people, :f they are allowed to work out their own salvation. I think Air Chamberlain's visit will have a very good effect, because it has brought finality to any questions which were open, and will enable the people to come to vies decisions ttpon otfeers. .