THE SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 23

THE SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

DEMAND FOR INDEPENDENCE. (By Cable.) At a Congress of the National Party at Bloomfontein all the provinces were represented. General Hertzog, presiding, said he regarded the assertion that South Africa had free government as pure mockery. The Union Government consisted of men who consulted solely Imperial interests. South Africa was nothing but the football of the Empire. He then voiced the claims of the Free State to independence. Leaders of other provinces presented the cases of their respective provinces, the keynote being a demand for the reversal of the alleged injustice done in taking away the Boer republic. Separate provincial congresses were then constituted. The Free State Congress adopted a resolution demanding the restoration of its former independence and the sending of two delegates to request the King to grant such restoration. Generals Hertzog and De Wet were elected the Free State delegates. The Transvaal Congress similarly demanded independence, and appointed two delegates. The Cape Congress adjourned. The Cape section of the Nationalist Conference resolved by a great majority that the Dutch-speaking South Africans would not be satisfied until the South African Union enjoyed complete independence from the Empire; also that the existence of the union was no obstacle to the restoration of the rights of the old republics. The Cape and Natal sections are each to choose two representatives to proceed to Europe. MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. At the opening of Parliament the Governor-general (Lord Buxton) intimated that Ministers would lay before "the House

proposals for dealing with enemy subjects and naturalised British subjects of enemy origin. The Government also proposed to remove, on the proclamation ot peace, the; disqualifications and disabilities imposed on persons convicted of participating in. the late i*ebellion.