THE FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 8

THE FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT.

'"Botha Premier! These English do

"'stagger humanity!'" Such, as imagined by '-Punch," was the comment of Kruger's shade when his old lieutenant was appointed Premier of the Transvaal. What would tho old President say, if, as seems most probable, Mr Botha becomps first Prime Minister of United South Africa? Recent developments have pointed to Mr Botha as the man on whom Viscount Gladstone's choice is most likely to fall. Tiie situation is niost curious and critical- On June Ist the Union comes into being, and by that date a Cabinet must be formed. The party divis-ions are difficult fo? th© outsider to understand.

Neither Britons. Boert, nor BritishSouth Africans seeip to bo . united family. A recent writer put 6 the problem succinctly when he qs_s: " Afc "wp to have the old parties, which, "under a thin disguise and despite a " few exceptions, reaijj mean British "versus Dutch? Or will there be a "Young South Africa. Party formed of " the progressive leader? of both races, " prepared to do battle with the Do- " Nothing-ism of the flofmeyer- and " the Hertzogs of the four colonies?" Will the division ultimately lie between coast and interior, pr liigh protection and low ■orotectiop, or agriculture ancj mining, pr _ybite labour and coloured labour F The ideal Ministry would be a coalition of the best elements in both races, representing §11 the colpnies. The country now has a clean sla£e, and it would be an infinite pjty if the old battle-cries were inscribed ou it. Anions the best elements iv South Africa there hns been a strong feeling thsjt a non-party Government should take command of the cpuntry during the first stage of its new life, for the replacement of the old machinery by the now will bo a Iqng and diffi cu *t t*usincss. With this end in view, Dr. Jameson, the Progressive leader, and Mr Botha, talked over the prospects ot a coalition, Dr. Jameson being prepared to assjgt in tjie formation of a "Government of the best men," and to give it b.£ support. But just when negotiations for a eoajiti.pi- seemed likely te bear fruit, Mr Merriman, the Cape Premier, poured scarp on tlio idea, and decjared that tlje Union Government iipjst be conducted pn the old party liqeg. T\_s almost killed the peace movement, but latterly it ha§ re. vived, and a few days ago the London "Daily Chronicle" predicted that the Ministry would lie compoged of various including Mr Bofjia and Dr. Jaiposon. My Merrjzu*ni- position as, Premier of the, Qfipp would give him the first call on the Premiership pf the l/pion, wcrg it not for his i»npopuJar|ty with cortain sections of the community. His upfortiiiiate speech against a coali. tion alienated Transvaal opinion, and jost hiii} a gpqd de.*** of -jirpport ip JS"at_.j, and his openly avowed hostility to the white jabour movement, which i_ making headway rapidly i\i South Africa, bas Qffended the progressive, members of tljq various parties, Mr Bptjl3, is, then*fore, the man who command.} most support, and on the use of his oppoftunj. tits may depend the future welfare of bis copntj-y. Unfortunately he has nqt jiit showed himself complete master of bis party. His own inclinations are for burying the -hatchet and ndppti%s a progressive non-racial policy, but the conservative Ptitoh, who keep to the old racial lines, may bo too strong for b-IM. '■