SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 309, 5 November 1910, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

DUKE OF CONN AUGHT'S

SPEECH

By Telegraph.—l'res- Association. CojiyrigJit

(Received at 12.20 a.m.) Capetown, Yesterday.

The inauguration of the first Union Parliament occurred this morning in superb weather. The Duke of Connaught and Lord Gladstone led the procession from Government House, through the principal thoroughfares of the city to the Parliament House.

The streets were lined with troops and thronged with enthusiastic crowds The procession reached Parliament House at noon, being received by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly, and proceeded to the Assembly Chamber where the Duke of Connaught in his speech, said : "Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly : On the twenty-first of February last my beloved and deeply lamented brother, King Edward, in his speech in the Imperial Parliament, dwelt on the establishment of the Union of South Africa, and his desire that his son, then the Prince of Wales, should make an extended tour through the Dominion, and open, in his name, the first Session of the new Parliament. But by the inscrutable ordering of events that purpose, charged with so deep an interest and meaning for all subjects both here and at home, was not to be fulfilled.

The sudden calamity which, within a few weeks, bereaved the Empire of a revered Sovereign, thus fell with particular severity on South Africa herself. It broke the chain of close and abiding forethought, which linked my illustrious brother to the welfare of this great territory, and effaced, at one blow, all those well-placed arrangements for doing high honour to the birth of the Union Parliament, which held a prominent place in his thoughts, even during the closing hours of his life. I have it in command from the King to convey to South Africa the expression of his keen and profound regret that he, for the present, has been deprived of the gratification of coming amongst you in person. To have been here upon this great historic occasion would have given to His Majesty, as also to the Queen, inestimable pleasure, but the imperative and impressive duties and labours which attach to them have crowded upon His Majesty and make it impossible for the King to be absent from the Mother Country.

His Majesty has therefore conferred upon me the honour of representing him to-day. He has bidden me assure you of his heartfelt gratitude for the warm sympathy extended from the whole of South Africa, to himself and his family in the irreparable loss they have sustained.

The King, as you are well aware, is no stranger to the Dominions beyond the seas. His association with them is lifelong, and they hold a large place in his heart. His Majesty is well-known to you: He passed through the fire of sorrow, trouble, and misunderstanding leading up to the conflicts which brought calamity upon the land. But all this now lies peacefully buried with the past. I recognise now, that here, as elsewhere, there must always persist a marked divergence of political opinion. Such divisions, indeed, of thought and action are of the essence of full and free responsible government, a government which you now enjoy. The King rejoices in the knowledge that the auspicious union of the South African Dominions has already made for the social and material progress of his people, and he feels assured that all South Africans will work steadfastly and honourably for the welfare of their great and beautiful country. His Majesty's earnest prayer is that the union so happily achieved, may, under God's guidance, prove a lasting blessing to you all, and that it will tend to the ever-increasing advantage and prosperity of South Africa and the British Empire. Gentlemen of the Senate and gentlemen of the House of Assembly, it affords me much pleasure to convey to you this message from the King. I now, in his name, and on his behalf, declare this parliament open. After delivering hts speech the Duke of Connaught read the following telegram from the King : "Although it has been ordained that I should not be with you on this great occasion,my thought and prayers are to-day for South Africa and for her lasting union. I earnestly trust that, for the sake of the people as a whole, your great country may, by God's blessing, under wise guidance and statesmanship, progress from year to year, ever increasing in wisdom, happiness, and prosperity.

LORD GLADSTONE'S SF^nni

A PROGRESSIVE POLICY.

(Received at 8. 15 a.m.) ' Capetown, Yesterday. Lord Gladstone in his speech at the opening of the Union Parliament, said : "The King has honoured you by deputing the Duke of Connaught to open the Session of the first Parliament in the mother city of South : Africa, and to deliver the speech ! whereto we have just listened with keen appreciation. You will no doubt desire to enlist the opportunity to send' a lilting and grateful reply to His Maiestv. Tt is a matter of deepj'egrel 1 that the death of our beloved Sovereign, Edward the Seventh, prevented King George being here in person on this'historic occasion. It will be ever present in vour minds that His late I Majesty, who was so profoundly in- | terested in the welfare of South Africa assented to Act of Union, an Act which has laid the foundation' of a

new nationality for this > try, and under its provisions yon anP now assembled in Parliament. To establish, strengthen and protect this nationality in the true spirit of the Art is the first duty of Parliament." The speeeli pointed to the necessity for the consolidation of Hie public services of the Colonies on a uniform basis. Lord Gladstone anounced that a Commission had been appointed to make recommendations for the organisation and readjustment of the public service, and its report was awaited before comprehensive legislation would be proposed. Some changes however, were urgently required, for which legislation would be submitted. A commission had also been appointed to enquire and recommend on the readjustment of the customs, promotion of local industries, and cognate matters. He referred to the necessity for gradually making uniform laws, applying to the whole Union. Legislation would be introduced dealing with certain matters wherein uniformity was urgently necessary. Measures would also be submitted for dealing with public audit, the nationalisation of railways, harbours, j)osts and telegraphs, and immigration, stock and plant disease problems. South African defence was engaging the earnest attention of the Government, who also were considering a scheme for the establishment of a national South African University, which would be submitted in due course. Proposals would be framed with full regard to the position and interests of important institutions, which for many years had successfully laboured in the field of higher education.