The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1927. THE SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG BILL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 July 1927, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1927. THE SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG BILL.

Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia. Normanby, Okaiawa. Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, Hnrley ville, Patea, Waveriey. Mokoia. Whakamara, Ohangai. Meremere. Fraser Boad and Ararata

A fresh if not altogether unexpected development has been reached in connection with the progress of the Flag Bill in the South African Legislature. The Senate has carried an amendment providing for a radical alteration in the design contemplated in the Bill, but as it gives the Union Jack a certain prominence, the amendment is not likely to be accepted by the Government, and thus the deadlock over this question would appear to be more pronounced than ever. The passing of the Flag Bill against the Senate's opposition may be effected in a later session by the means provided in the Constitution; then, in accordance with General Hertzog’s plege, a referendum must, be held upon the question, and the only outcome that is to be foreseen of that procedure is that a violent political struggle will end in a majority decision which will not be in any sense national. When the Bill was before the Assembly last month General Smuts declared that the step which the Government was taking was a mistake and might produce disaster in the country. The Government, lie said, was going to force the measure through: “It would fail, but there would be an aftermath of this failure in the sense of injury and bitterness and suspicion which would continue to poison the public life of the country for years to come." The Labour Party has figured ingloriously throughout the controversy. Being in political alliance with the Nationalists, and having its representatives in the Ministry, it has evidently been bent upon leaving nothing undone to prevent a reunion of the two non-Socialist parties which would place it in impotent isolation. Its leaders decided on the course of continuing to support the Bill, repugnant though it was to the Labour rank and file, as a means of maintaining the political status quo and keeping themselves in office. To the Prime Minister and certain of his colleagues has been ascribed a desire to drop the Bill, from w T hieh course, however, they have been restrained by the threat of the Labour Ministers to resign and destroy the Government if the measure were not pressed through the House of Assembly. If the results of the elections of the Provincial Councils in Natal, the Cape Province, and the Transvaal can be taken as a guide—and they -were fought largely on the flag issue—the Labour Party in South Africa may expect to pay somewhat dearly at the next general election for the tactics by which it has been retaining its hold upon power.