SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20318, 28 January 1928, Page 19

SOUTH AFRICA.

PEACE IN POLITICS.

(Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) DURBAN, December 20. The South African National Flag controversy, which has agitated the Union in its worst form racially, for over'a year past, having, largely through the good sense of Mr Tielman Boos, the Minister of Justice, been settled, we are now being confronted with other problems. The Prime Minister, General Hertzog, had his platitudinous say on the flag settlement, and was followed by the Bishop of Pretoria. Mr Roos has come to the front with a proposal for the formation of a great Centre Party, to bring peace in politics, and to work on economic grounds for the welfare of South Africa. General Smuts having declined to fall in with this new orientation, Mr Roos issued an invitation to members of the South African (Smut’s) Party to join a greater Nationalist party to work for the future of South Africa. Mr Roos’s new ground—for he was an out-and-out Nationalist when the present Government took office —is that the independence Iris party has stood out for was won for it at the last Imperial Conference by General Hertzog. So the Minister of Justice has put it in a letter appearing in Ons Vaderland. tils last two sentences are worth repeating. “ Unfortunately, it is easier, as a rule, to talk and write than to think deeply. To me it is a bitter disappointment that even in the Transvaal signs of disunion appear, whereas I have made the position arising out of the declaration so plain that even the blind should see it, the deaf hear it, and the most senile understand.” With or without the Flag Act, says Mr Roos the Union Jack must be a flag of South Africa, for it stands for that free association of nations which General Hertzog won. Colonel Creswell, the Minister of Defence, the Leader of the Labour Party, adheres to the present situation. Party cleavages, he has said, are the same today, as they were, and in regard to “ hypothetical new alignments ” he said that Labour had entered into a pact with the Nationalist Party which both parties were honourably observing, and which they would continue honourably to observe. THE NATAL ADMINSTR ATORSHIP. After the flag question, the reverberations of which have reached the ends of the earth, we should have expected a quiet time for Christmas of 1927. But no. Sorrows and troubles come not singly, but in battalions. We have not reached that stage yet. But the appointment last week of Mr Gordon Watson as Administrator of Natal in succession to Sir George Plowman has brought about another political controversy, when, for a change, the Labour Party has joined certain Natal leaders of the S.A.P. ilk in protesting against the appointment. Curiously enough, Mr Watson has the remarkable ground qualifications of having been born and educated in the Natal capital of Pietermaritzburg. He become the private secretary of the Prime Minister and clerk of the Executive Council of the Union following on his removal to the Cape with the late Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson, when he left Natal for the Cape Governorship 30 years ago. The appointment, though made by the Pact Government, is unacceptable to the Natal Labour Party. Presumably it wanted a Labour Administrator. It has not been able to use its influence in Parliament on the subject. LORD ALLENBY IN SOUTH AFRICA. Lord and Lady Allenby are expected to arrive in South Africa on Monday next, and will be the guests of the Governor-General and Princess Alice at Pretoria. After visiting the Victoria Falls, they will return to England via the East Coast and Egypt. Forty years ago Lord Allenby, then an officer of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, was stationed in Natal. WATTLE BARK INDUSTRY. The Hon. Frederick Threlkeld Angus, of Ravensworth, Dalton, Natal, pioneer of the South African wattle bark industry, died at his home, Ravensworth, on December 14, in his eighty-second year. The production of wattle bark and bark extract in the Union is confined to the Province of Natal, which includes Zululand. Quite obviously, unique opportunities for expansion lie in front of the industry. First of all, there is the increase in the consumption of tanned leather throughout the world, which is causing some anxiety as to future supplies of tanning materials. Secondly, wattle bark is one of the most valuable and extensively employed of the tanning materials of the British Empire, and has met with increased popularity with British tanners. Since the wattle was introduced by Mr Angus into Natal in 1880 the cultivation of it has increased exceedingly, so much so that it is now one of the leading industries of the Union. During the year ended June 30, 1927, of farm produce wool comes a long way first in value among exports. Then comes the item of hides and skins, and wattle bark and bark extract third. Many hold the opinion that in a few years’ time wattle bark will become second only in export to wool. NATAL SUGAR CROP. The 1927-28 Natal sugar crop is estimated at 239,429 tons. The price of No. 1 refined remains at 24s 6d per 1001 b, excise paid. , MAIZE. The total production of maize for the Union during 1927 is _ given as 18 216,000 bags, being the third greatest on’record, and 67 per cent, increase over that of last year. This is 7,200,000 bags over the average annual consumption. Of this surplus almost one-half has been exported. Current prices range from 11s 6d to 12s lid. WOOL. The outlook for Union wool seems to be very bright. There is a steadily rising production, and the quality generally is being maintained. Durban has had a record season. The following are the latest Port Elizabeth quotations Grease, ex-super 12 mos, 2-d to 2od per lb; super, 20d to 22d; good, 18.1 to 20d; average, 15d to 17d. The hide and skins market is firm. LIVE STOCK. Johannesburg prices Slaughter oxen prime £l4 to £l9, medium £9 to £ll IDs, quarantined £5 10s to £l9; slaughter cows —prime £9 to £ll 10s; mile cows, £8 to £27 10s; sheep merino prime, £1 5s 6d to £1 Hs 6d; horses, £4 to £2O; mules, £4 to £lB 10s.