REPLY TO ATTACKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 10 April 1922, Page 5

REPLY TO ATTACKS

GENERAL SMUTS AND GENERAL

HERTZOG

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

CAPETOWN. April 7

Speaking before tho South African Party’s Congress of Cape Province, General Smuts referred to the bitter attacks of General Hertzog. What would have become of South Africa in the recent troubles, be asked, but for the Union? What would have become of public life in South Africa if two years ago be had not taken the step of bringing together all the patriotic,, lavv abiding elements in one great solid party ? Hi’s hope and conviction w r as that they bad come to bedrock. They bad struggled through a crisis such as w r as raging over the world, and bad got thro Ugh —not without bloodshed—but they were through it, and bad arrived at bedrock. They would now build up a solid South Africa.

The Premier declared that the revolutionary spirit which had caused so much disaster was fostered by the Nationalists and.their allies, the. Labourites. _lt was the, success of the South African Party which had brought all these elements in opposition, but the people of the towns ami the, veldt were beginning to realise what Avas going on, and in the time coming would have the chance to get to grips with the one real task—the industrial and economic development of South Africa.