AN EMPIRE DELEGATE

Evening Star, Issue 14525, 29 November 1910, Page 6

AN EMPIRE DELEGATE

* DON. GEO. FOWLDS IN SOUTH AFRICA. SOME PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS. [SnsciAJ. to the Star.] WELLINGTON, November 29. "Empire delegates" is the title given by the Capo Town Press to the three representatives of Britain's self-governing countries at the opening of the South African Commonwealth Parliament. New Zealand's representative, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, writing to a friend in Wellington, gave some exceedingly interesting impressions of South African affairs, and your representaivc was allowed to take extracts. Five hundred miles from shore the lavish hospitality of tho South Africans was forecasted. "AfL>r a very enjoyable, trip across tho Indian Ocean," writes Mr Fowlds, "wo reached Durban on October 26. Five or six hundred miles from shore we received wireless messages from the chief magistrate and Mayor of Durban asking us to lunch on the day of our arrival- We were met by a representative gathering on the wharf, some ex-New Zealanders amongst the number, and during our stay of thirty-six hours wo were entertained almost continuously. Here wo received messages of welcome* from General Botha and other members of tho Ministry, from personal friends, and from Caledonian, Australasian, and New Zealand societies all over South Africa,, tho societies offering us banquets and other receptions. —At Capo Town.— " Wo reached Cape Town on the morning of October 30, and were met on the steamer in the Bay by the Hon. F. S. Malan, Minister of Education, representing tho Government, On our arrival at the jetty we were met by a deputation of tho Trade* .and Labor Council and other organised Labor bodies, and an address was presented both to Mr Fisher (Commonwealth Prime Minister) and myself. As we drove through the streets of Cape Town the evidence of the forthcoming festivities was apparent on every hand. Tho decorations, triumphal arches, and illuminations have to bo earned out on a lavish scale. It is estimated that there are over 20,000 visitors in Capo Town. Arrangements had to be made for my party to stay at the Royal HoteL Some of the other oversea visitors are located at Newlands House, about seven miles out of Cape Town. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught, with Princess Patricia, arrived on the Monday morning, and the Ministry, with overs ja visitors, went on board, end were, presented to their Royal Highnesses. Since that time it has been one continuous rush of functions, and this condition will continue till the end of the week. We leave Cape Town for Victoria Falls on Sunday night, and after visiting the various leading centres will return here fbout December 2 or 3, and sail for Adelaide on the 9th. —Boer Women Folic—- " I dintd with General Botha at Groote Sehuur last night, and found him and Mrs Botha charming people. Mrs Botha is quite a queenly woman, and, like all the other Boer women, takes a keen interest in public affairs. lam deeply impressed with tho fact that" one great source of Boer strength lies in Kieir women folk. Tho Dutch women aro mostly strong, virile people. They have been reared under conditions which mako them laugh at the idea of the scarcity of domestic help. It is true many of them have had native helps, but frequently in their history have they not only been deserted by them, but have had to torn out and load the gnns to help their husbands to defend their homes against natives and other enemies. All this straggling with nature animate and inanimate through the long centuries has produced a remarkably strong and vigorous race of men and women, both physically and mentally. I think it is unfortunate that the racial issue should have been raised so virulently during the recent elections. It has been mainly a political cry, and I am glad to say it is deprecated by the best people on both sides. It was a blunder to Lave such a long political campaign between the formation of the Government and the holding of tho elections. —A Unifying Force.— " General Botha has a most difficult part to play, and deserves tho sympathy of the Empire in Ids arduous undertaking. Mistakes undoubtedly have been made on l«>th sides, and will continue to be made; imt> 1 tliink there can be no doubt of the bona fides of the general, and most if not all <>f liis colleagues, and I am true that the. strongest unifying force in South Afiu.i to-day is General Jtotha. lam scrry to the general's health is far from satisfactory. Tho strain of the past fewmonths has told on him considerably, but after this week he will be aide to take things easier. He is tho ono indkpcnyalilo man in South Africa to-day, although other wen may be more able and better equipped. Lord Gladstone, like General liotha, has a very dillicnlt role to play, but I think it v.-a/s a wiec- selection which the British Government made when they chose the son of tho 'Grand Old Man' to be the first Governor of United South Africa. —Tho Country's Destiny.— '' 1 don't think the -union has brought the millennium to South Africa, but it has provided the opportunity for the South African people to work out their own destiny, and 1 firmly believe that destiny will bo a great one. It is a very remarkable, coincidence that it is exactly fifty years since Sir George Grey returned to the Capo after having been recalled for encouraging tho union of South Africa. Ho came back largely through the personal indu-.Ttce of Queen Victoria, but with his h<*!:ds tied. on the question of parliamentary union. As a solatium of iter feelings, the Queens second son (Prince Alfred) made a Royal tour through tho country. To-day a younger se>n of Queen Victoria is here inaugurating the union with every circumstance of pomp and splendor. How much better it would have been for South Africa and the Empire if the seer statesman had been allowed to carry out his policy fifty yeans ago? —lnterest in New Zealand.— "I find everybody that I meet takes a great interest in Now Zealand. Even tho Duke and *;ichc« gave myself and my danghter a very cordial greeting when they heard that wo came from New Zealand. We had tea. and dinner with thorn at Government 'House to-day, and in the afternoon, by special appointment, 1 had a private interview with tho Duke. Both lie and the Duchess take a very keen interest in New Zealand, and hope the opportunity may arise of visiting it at some future time. Tbr-y were keen to know how Loid and Lady Islington wore getting on in Now Zealand." The itinerary arranged for tio Overseas representatives 6how6 that they are due to leave Bloemfontein today for Grabamstown, and that Pott Elizabeth will be reached on Wednesday. They sail henco for Cape Town on Thursday,. leachins tho otpitaL on .Saturday,