GROWTH OF THE WHITE LABOR IDEAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 10 August 1908, Page 6

GROWTH OF THE WHITE LABOR IDEAL.

Frankly, much of the criticism is \ based upon very little that is definite. It 'is produced more by the curious political atmosphere of the Transvaal than by facts. Changes which in other lands would arouse very little comment' here become complicated by racial suspicions: An isolated case is apt to be suspected as the initial step in a deliberate policy. , The feeling is in the air. It is infectious. Perhaps it is well that this should be so. A few serious mistakes, a few proved cases of racial prejudice, and the old cry of Erugerism would spring up. It would not take much to make Pretoria us British in feeling a's it was in the days of the retrocession more than two decades ago. Even if the Ministry wanted to favor their own followers — which, I say again, is not proved — they would find it a very dangerous policy to carry out. It is probable, then,* that the new session will witness the beginning of the revival of Progressivism as a political force. If the Opposition could only adopt a good white labor policy they would strengthen their position immensely. The white labor ideal is growing in the Transvaal, and in opposing the conclusions of the Mining Industry Commission the Progressive leaders are taking np an attitude which deprives them of the sympathy of a great many people. But, despite this error, the Opposition ranks are closing up. General Botha, who controls- the back-veld Boers so easily, will gradually find that the Boers of the , towns are slipping away from Het Yolk and its autocratic ways. The division will not always be between Britofn and 'Boer. To-day ft is becoming more., and more Town against Country, and in a united South Africa it would be Interior versus Coast. ;And as batile cries change and parties alter, the back-veld may be insufficient to keep a Ministry in "power.