SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 25

SOUTH AFRICA.

A SPIRIT OF HOPEFULNESS. DURBAN, October 13. Mr Henry De Villiers has been elected president of tho National Convention, which is sitting at Durban. King Edward's meesage expressed deep interest in th-3 convention, and conveyed •cordial good wishes for the euccess of tho deliberations, which, he was confident, were animated by a whole-hearted desire and unswerving efforts delegated for the common good of feouth Africa. Ine Impsnal Government's message ■was equally hopeful. October 15. Mr Gandhi, who went to- Natal in connection with the agitation against the Asiatic regulations for Indians in tho Transvaal, was arrested on Ms return to Volkonist and sentenced to two months' hard labour for refusing to give identification particulars, required under the act of last year. October 19. At the Government banquet at Durban in honour of the visit of the British squadron the speeches chiefly referred to the spirit of hopefulness in South African unity. Mr J. De Villiers (Attorneygeceral of the Transvaal) said he regretted that the convention was in secret, a<s the statesmanlike utterances of the delegates were well calculated to convince the public and secure a satisfactory solution. Mr J. C. Smuts (Colonial Secretary of the Transvaal) appealed to the public to banish their suspicions that the convention was either hostile to Natal or to the British throughout South Africa. On the contrary, the delegates were trying, on a basis of perfect equality and justice, to secure an endumig non-racial settlement. Although peace between the British and the Boors was concluded at Vereeniging, yet until a further larger step was taken there would remain a certain element of disunion and discord. The .convention, he trusted, would perfect the work begun at Veereniging. othsrwise State bickerings might strangle South Africa's future. The people must make sacrifices to secure the j high ideals of one State, one Government, and one people.