THE NEW UNION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 3, 14 December 1910, Page 9

THE NEW UNION

MR FOWLDS IN SOUTH AFRICA. SPEECH AT THE STATE BANQUET. At the State banquet at Capetown on November 3, the eve of the opening of the Union Parliament, the Hon. George Fowlds, representing New Zealand, in replying to the toast of "Our Visitors,” said he rejoiced that he had the honour and privilege of coming from New Zealand with a message from the people there to the people and Parliament of the Union of South Africa, conveying congratu-

lations and good wishes from that beautiful Great Britain of the South.(—Cheers.) In coming across the sea from New Zealand, he had felt to a large extent, that he was coming Home.—(Cheers.) It had forced many coincidences upon his attention. He remembered that it was 25 years since he left to fight his way in New Zealand, and on the day he left on his return he celebrated his fiftieth birthday. It was a further coincidence that Mr Fisher and he came from the same part of Staffordshire, .a country ever devoted to the cause of peace and progress. In the early part of 1860, he continued, one of the most distinguished Britishers of the last century left England for South Africa. He left with glad ness, yet with sadness in his heart. The Englishman was Sir George Grey. —(Cheers.) Sir George, they would remember, was recalled from his duties as Governor and Commissioner. Largely through the influence of Queen Victoria, he was sent back, and reinstated as Governor of South Africa. Sir George Grey had afterwards come to New Zealand, and he had the pleasure of his acquaintance during the later years of his life. He rejoiced that, after a lapse of 50 years the wisdom of the statesmen of the Old Country had seen fit to confer upon the communities of South Africa the privilege ami right of self-government. —("Hear, hear.”) GENEROSITY AND MAGNANIMITY.

He thought it would Vie well if the people of South Africa would try to embody in their relationships with one another the spirit, generosity, and magnanimity which had been shown by the statesmen of the Mother Country. If they did that, he had no. fear of the future of South Africa. In the first place. South Africa was, geographically, in a position that it must be one .of the keystones of the arch of Empire. The Britishers had recognised the nobility and the virility of the Dutch people of South Africa, who had for several centuries struggled in the country, with Nature, and in that struggle had developed a character and capacity that was the admiration of the world.—(Applause.) They had ever been lovers of liberty - (cheers) —and when they came to realise the liberty which was possible. and the possibilities of public life under the isgis of the British Crown he was sure that no more loyal subjects would be found in the British Empire. They would come in an approved source o f strength, and that great love of liberty, which they believed stood for all that was best in the interests of humanity.—(Cheers, i They recognised that the British Empire in the past, not only in South Africa, but in other parts of the world, bad made mistakes — they recognised that individually, as well as organically, as a nation they were far from perfect, but they believed that for the establishment and the maintenance, of the eternal principles of liberty, equality of opportunity, and justice there was no greater Dominion in the world to-day.—(Cheers.) ESSENTIAL QUALITIES.

He recognised that it would be an’impertinence for him to give any indication as to the methods of piocedure for the people of South Africa. He had lived long enough in the country to realise the magnitude and difficulty of the proble ns that the new Parliament would have to deal with. but. as a fellowcitizen of the Empire it was proper that he might call their attenti m to those eternal principles by which alone a nation could be great, znd that was that in all their dealings with one another, as with outsiders, they must recognise that justice, equality and brotherhood should prevail. (Cheers.) The Qualities that he believed were required for the British Empire were considerat:on and toleration consideration for the feelings, aye. and for the prejudices of people living in different parts of the Empire—(Hear, hear) —ami toleration of ire; idiosvncracies of the people living in other parts of the Empire. These same principles that were necessary to hold together and main- 1

tain the Empire were necessary m their relations with one another in South Africa. (Hear, hear.) With consideration of each other s feelings and toleration in times of difficulty, they would gradually grow into one people, with one common ideal, and the future of South Africa must then be great, and would add to the glorious strength of the British Empire. (Cheers.) In concluding, Mr. Fowlds expressed cordial thanks to the Government and people of South Africa for the kindly reception they had accorded to himself and to Ins fellow-delegates. _____