SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Star, Issue 12061, 4 March 1907, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICA

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, the Kimberley raiders. * CAPE TOWN, March 2. Petitions for the reprieve of Ferreira (the leader of the recent raid) and bis companions are being circulated at the Cape. They were sentenced to death at Kimberley last month. - GENERAL BOTHA’S MINISTRY. A REARRANGEMENT. PRETORIA, March 3. '' (Received 'March* 4, at 8.50 a.m.) General Botha has rearranged his Cabinet as follows;—Mr Edward P. Solomon, President of the Nationalist - party, becomes Minister of Works; Mr Smuts, Colonial Secretary and Minister of Mines; and Mr Risaik, Minister of Lands. Sir Ricliard Solomon declined to join the Ministry. Mr G. Hutchison, CI-M.H.R, for Patea, who returned from South Africa about a vear ago, after spending a few years in that country, gave an Auckland ‘Herald’ representative his impressions of the sng-. crested personnel of the new Transvaal Ministry, as first cabled. “As one,having some knowledge of the men named, 1 may tay that they will form a capable, although, of course, a distinctly Boer, Ministry. Louis Botha, the Premier, is a man, of moderate views, and one who is respected by all classes in the Transvaal. Dr Smuts, the other ’eader (whom I take jo bo Mr J. C. Smuts, a well-known advocate), is also a strong man. Still, it must be bs?ne in mind that they are both staunch Boers. “ What is your opinion of the outlook?” “ The experiment that the British Go- ■ vernment have committed themselves to in granting the present Constitution is a risky one. How long the present entente cordiale between England and the Boers will con-, tinne will depend upon the moderation of the new Ministry'. 1 do not think that the Government will neglect to advance, by % every legitimate means, a movement for the restoration of a Republic.” “ In what form do you suppose this movement will first manifest itself?” •‘Well, I think that in a few years the Boer party will ask for the power of ap-. pointing their own Governor. The members of the present nominative Chamber, who have been appointed by the Governor, acting on behalf of the Imperial Government, will hold office for*.five years. At the end of ihat period the Boors—assum ing that they remain in their present majority—will probably seek to be permitted to appoint the members of the nominative Chamber, or to have the appointment of the Governor in their own hands. They are on top, and no doubt they will make, use of all, the official machinery available to their ends. During the next five years it is not. likely that any particular aggressive action will be taken, but the present position is quite, if I may use the term, ‘anti-1899.’ Even now it practically is thfe same as it was before the war, and. at the end of five years it may become actually the same.” Questioned as to the probable attitude of the new Government in regard to the Chinese labor question, Mr Hutchison said he thought they would go in for the gradual repatriation of the Chinese now engaged in the mines. In this they would no doubt have the co-operation of the Nationalist and Labor parties. “Probably,” he said, “ Met Volk will go in for repatriation at the end of the three years’ term. The supply of Kaffir labor is insufficient, and the capitalists, as you know, have threatened 'to shut down the mines rather than employ white labor.” “ Would not the mines pay if worked with white labor?” “I think they would. The dividends are apparently large enough, but the capitalists are averse to the employment of white labor, not only on the ground of extra expense, but also on account of the possibilities of the engagement of white men assisting in the building up of a strong Labor party, who would legislate against their interests.” “ Do you think the threat to close down the mines would be carried out?” “I think not. The parly now- in,power have declared that if the mines are shut down the Government will work them on behalf of the State. This declaration, coupled with the fact that a large number of mines could be profitably worked with white labor, should be sufficient to prevent such a threat being carried into effect.”