TROUBLED WATERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15456, 7 November 1910, Page 6

TROUBLED WATERS.

The men, who have been most prominent in connection with the opening of tho South African Parliament have of necessity been guarded in their utterances. Congratulation, sympathy and hope are sentiments suitable to tho occasion, but their expression in studied phrases throws no new light upon the actual condition of Union politics. Tho Governor-General in his speech at the opening ceremony touched lightly upon legislative proposals. and it is noticeable that he avoided reference to the more difficult subjects, such ns education aud tho language question. His reticence, under tlie circumstances, was natural enough, but there ai'e one or two comments contained in the published reports that indicate the serious nature of the problems that have to be faced in the new dominion. Lord Gladstone himself counselled "moderation, forbearance and wisdom," and expressed his earnest desire that material progress should bo associated with ''complete national unity." M r Fowlds, representing New Zealand, remarked in his message to the "Daily Mail" that "despite all ripples on the tiirface'' the prospects of South Africa wore " full of hope," and tho Australian Prime Minister said that the country had found the only way out of its difficulties and a way which, " perhapa after a strugglo," would ultimately solve them all. These gentlemen seem, to have had in their minds the racial divisions which aro the most depressing feature of South African politics, and the qualifications they introduced are the more significant because the Australasian delegates would be very friendly critics. Of course no very deiinito deductions can be drawn from brief cablegrams, but at any rate it is a matter for rejoicing that General Botha and Br Jameson, tho two most, commanding figures in tho Union, arc at one in condemning a system of race combination for party purposes. Great issues will depend upon their ability to secure tho general adoption of their view in South Africa's first Parliament.