EVENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 63, 11 September 1924, Page 4

EVENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

AN INTERESTING LECTURE

THE POLITICAL PARTIES.

(BY TBLEOHAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE POST.) AUCKLAND, This' Day. Events in South Africa in connection with the Great War-were dealt with in an interesting manner in a lecture on Tuesday evening by Professor Paterson, who resided for twenty years in South Africa prior to coming to Auckland this year. He said that when the war broke out the Boers had an idea that here was their opportunity for regaining their lost independence. The lecturer referred to the "prophet" Van Kensburg, who. in a "vision," had seen a grey bull defeat a red hull, the red bull typifying Britain, and the grey bull Germany. Some of those ripe for rebellion called a meeting to be addressed by General de la ltey, who believed he had a divine call to address the burghers. For ten hours General Botha and others argued with General de la Eey, who finally agreed to persuade the burghers to take no action. The death of General de la- Key by thericocheting of a bullet fired by a patrol, who was on the road for the arrest of Johannesburg robbers, was described by the- lecturer. The troubles in regard to the campaign against German Southwest Africa were nest touched upon, the lecturer dealing with the conduct of General Beyer and Colonel Maritz. After the latter had joined hands with the. Germans martial law was declared. Generals de Wet and Beyer were then riding about the country with armed bodyguards protesting against the action of the Government in invading an "unoffending people." In later developments ni respect of the campaign against the German colony, the lecturer took part, owing to his ability to send telegrams by cypher. "THE GREATEST MAN I EVER MET." - "Botha was the greatest man I have ever met, ' said Professor Paterson. "He was a big man in-every way—physically, intellectually, morally, and spiritually; He seemed incapable .of <■■ an unkind thought or word, and also incapable of deception of any kind." General Smuts differed General Botha, in many ways. Smuts did not "suffer fools-glad-ly, and was not afraid to tell them so lie was a statesman of vision and imagination, and it was he who coined the phrase "British Commonwealth of Nations." In politics he was an idealist Dealing with the future, Professor Pater,son said that if any considerable section ol General bmuts's Dutch-speakin«- supporters joined the Nationalist Party, the latter would become independent of the Labour Party. If the" Nationalist Party were dependent on the Labour Party there would be no fear of seceding the Labour. Party being largely Englishspeaking. If, however, General Hertzoff became independent of Labour, it was the lecturer's fear that the question of seceding might come to the fore It would have this disastrous result, thatparties would bo ranged in the futur purely oh racial lines.