SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 21, 26 January 1909, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

THE CAPITAL QUESTION. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright (Received January 26, 8.5 a.m.) CAPETOWN. 25th January. The South African Convention is still undecided on the question of the capital of the proposed Federation. One of the most difficult questions the Convention has to deal with is that of the capital of the proposed Federation, which bids fair to create as much bickering and, heartburning as the same question did in Australia. Capetown and Pretoria appear to divide the suffrages of delegates, argument turning on the advantages or otherwise of a seaport as against an inland capital. General De Wet, one of the Boer delegates, ha-; expressed himself willing to abide by the decision of the conference. It has been urged that there would be advantages, as well as disadvantages, in leaving the selection of the permanent capital an open question. In the course of their sessional rounds of the present capitals, during the first Parliament, the members and the country would be able to ascertain by actual experience which of the four cities would be most suitable for the abiding home of the central Government and Legislature. On the other hand, it is pointed out that this course would involve great expense in preparing four separate meet-ing-places for tho Parliament, with four separate sets of offices for Ministerial depaitments, and in transporting the whole macnineiy of government from place to place.