SOUTH AFRICAN PARTIES

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 271, 18 November 1919, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN PARTIES

ATTITUDE1 OF UNIONISTS

SUPPORT FOR SMUTS

CAPETOWN, Oci; 21. A message from Bloemfontein reports that at the Unionist Congress, the first since 1913, Sir Thomas Smartt in his opening, speech claimed that the party since it was founded by Sir Leander Jameson had formed a constructive but not a destructive Opposition. The Unionists meant to see that the pledges given, by General Her£j'og and the Free Stvte delegates at the National Convention were maintained at their face valae. Sir Laaader % Jameson, in 1910, asked for^the best man to carry on the Government.. There was now another opportunity. General Smuts was the only man who could take it.

He (Sir Thoma-. Smarfct) was prepared for a fai? amalgamation, but not for the absorption of the Unionist party. (Enthusiastic cheers). He was ready for a discussion xm the basis that the party's principles wquld not be lost. (Cheers). Referring to the new status of the Dominions, Sir Thomas Smartt emphasised that- it brought new responsibilities, the first of which should be Imperial preference. He touchad on the cost of living, and advocated the control of trusts. He -thought that the Government should tako over the stocksi of wheat in the interests of tile public.