DUTCH IMMIGRANTS
PRAISE BY GENERAL SMUTS PEOPLES OF SOUTH AFRICA [FROiI OUR OWN* CO IttIF.HPONI)K\t] PRETORIA, Nov. 21 "If there is any element in South Africa to be welcomed it is the Hollander element, and 1 wish we had more Hollanders here,'' said General Smuts, at the unveiling of a memorial to Dr. Legds. who- was one of Paul Ember's right-hand men. "I look back with gratitude to the contribution which the Netherlands element has made to South Africa. When 1 came to the Transvaal there was continued fighting mi different fronts, the Boer against the Briton in Johannesburg and, perhaps on a smaller scale, due to keen competition, the Afrikander against the Hollander '"1 remember that because I witnessed it. The Afrikanders felt that the Netherlands element was playing a predominant rolo in the administration of the country. But it did not take long before J. was convinced that our most faithful and qualified servants were the Netherlanders. They taught us a lesson. We were in too great a hurry, and yet we had to learn that lesson. We needed I'Jurojx; to help us, to take us by the hand and lead us, to teach us the administration of the country. This was the part Holland played!" Fortunately the strife born out of competition between Hollander and Afrikander was passed, said General Smuts, and ho welcomed this fact. ,- l wish wo had more of them," he added. "I notice that there is an increase of immigrants from Holland, and L am glad about it. They arc the best contribution from the older races. Give mo the descendants of a race which in centuries past fought for freodom and ideals which to-day we still honour. "Our friends from Holland are welcome. They are more welcome than immigrants from any other country on the European Continent."
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22617, 4 January 1937, Page 12
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305DUTCH IMMIGRANTS New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22617, 4 January 1937, Page 12
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