NATIONAL ANTHEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23055, 4 June 1938, Page 13

NATIONAL ANTHEM

SOUTH AFRICAN DISPUTE PUBLIC OPINION INFLAMED CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT (Received June 4, 12.30 a.m.) CAPETOWN, June 3 The Minister of Education, Mr. Richard Stuttaford, resigned owing to the omission of the National Anthem from the Union Day celebrations. However, after the Cabinet's decision giving equal status to "God Save the King" and "Die Stem van Suid Afrika," Mr. Stuttaford withdrew his resignation. Although the withdrawal of Mr. Stuttaford's resignation apparently ended the threatened serious Cabinet split, public feeling is still inflamed, says the Times' Capetown correspondent. Mr. Stuttaford, who during the election campaign gave his constituents an explicit assurance that "God Save the King" would not be endangered is satisfied with Cabinet's decision that both anthems will be played in future, but the Cabinet statement, while clearing up the legal position does not contain a hint of sympathy or understanding for the feelings of those who had been hurt. A large number of English-speaking supporters of the Government have been antagonised, while the Nationalists are gloating over what they regard as the irreconcilability of the two sections of the United Party.