S. AFRICAN FLAG

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1928, Page 5

S. AFRICAN FLAG

UNION JACK BELITTLED

'Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

(Recd May 30, 2 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, May 29.

'The National Flag of the Union is to be inaugurated on Thursday. During the past fortnight, strong feeling lias been growing throughout the Union, owing to the Government’s interpretation of the Act, particularly regarding flying both the Union Jack and the National Flag at particular centres.

At the pre-eminently Dutch-speak-ing town and villages in the old republics, only the national flag will be flown, except in the provincial capitals. where both flags will be on the principal buildings. In a number of small towns in the eastern part of Cape Province, the Government’s decision to flyq only the national flag is occasioning deep resentment, but the strongest feeling of all has been aroused at Cape- Town, owing to the refusal to fly the Union Jack at Cape Town Castle, which for 250 years has been universally regarded as the chief building in the city. Premier Hertzog, influenced, it is believed, mainly by Dr Malan, refuses to make concession to strong expressions of public opinion on this and to-day he refused to meet an influential deputatidn of ex-servicemen in that connection.

The effect of this grudging attitude is most unfortunate. The Englishspeaking community were undoubtedly ready to "unite in the but are now regarding the situation resentfully.