SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19845, 19 July 1926, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS.

DEPRESSION OE „SENATE. LABOUR AND THE FLAG. (From Ode Own Cobrespondent J PIETERMARITZBURG May 27. In the excitement caused by the Governtnnnt’B measure to eliminiate the Union Jack from the national flag, the further danng Bill of theirs for the repression of the Senate received yesterday a aecond reading from the Assembly after a most Inadequate discussion. The Senate has proved itself a most useful revising body, and it was for this purpose it was created; but it seems as if because the Government cannot have its decrees enacted at once, it must have a Senate more according to its liking. Hence the Senate Bill, which empowers the Government to dissolve tho Senate whenever the Assembly is dissolved. Under the Act of Union the Senate is dissolved every 10 years. Tho Labour contingent which keeps the Nationalist Government in office —and put it there—are no doubt much perturbed over the Flag Bill, which they support as part of the price to be paid for tbe pact. As has been said, even the worm will turn, and so it seems the British Labour Party "onstitm encies will when provoked enough, and tho elimination of the Union Jack in a British dominion is regarded as the limit. Dr Malan, tho fearless, talks of a possible general election on the question. now horrid the thought—a national struggle on racialism 1 In such a contingency the Labour members would find their services dispensed with, but the Nationalists would perhaps—perhaps—find themselves reinforced by a few more Dutch members. The prospect is not inviting.