FUTURE OF RHODESIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 6

FUTURE OF RHODESIA

RELATIONS WITH UNION AN IMPROVED OUTLOOK [from 'our own correspondent] CAPETOWN, June 19 Relations between Rhodesia and the Union of Sputh Africa, after being somewhat strained for several months, have considerably improved following a "conference of Rhodesian politicians in Capetown. Speaking at the University Club, at which Mr. G. M Huggins, Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, was a guest, General Smuts, Minister of Justice for the Union, made a stirring appeal for / the utmost freedom of collaboration between the two countries. "I fought hard," he said, "at one time for the union of our territories'in South Africa. I failed —perhaps it was inopportune, as has been said—but it had the support of many prominent Rhodesians, 'including Mr. Huggins, on his own confession, and his predecessor in office. "If Rhodesia wants its own Government and now demands Dominion Btatus without the frills, that is its affair, but one word of warning—let this not mean the creation of barriers. We have many problems in common. There should J3O continuous communication between us in the development of a common civilisation in Dark Africa. "I would like South Africans to spend their holidays, in Rhodesia. Without wishing to deny the beauties and nt- ' tractions of the Kruger Park and other spots in the Union, if people like the wild things "as I do, wild life, wild scenes, wild men, they can find them best in Rhodesia. But in crossing tho boundary I do not like to be searched by a Customs officer. Those are tlie sort of hindrances and barriers which should not'be multiplied between members of the same family." Mr. Huggins was equally emphatic in an appeal for collaboration. "We members of the British Empire," he said, "wish to do more than keep our own backyard clean. The ideal of free trade by internal agreement seems to have

a become a fleacl letter for the moment. ' .An intensive nationalism in economic affairs, as well as political, has driven nations to attempt to keep all the business at home, even at the price of a reduced standard of living. We have a larger view within our family, and particularly in Southern Africa there is a growing desire to face our tasks in common." Mr. ITuggins paid a tribute to the good will of the TTnion Government, demonstrated in all the official contracts he had experienced since coming into office.