UNITED SOUTH AFRICA.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12767, 8 February 1910, Page 2

UNITED SOUTH AFRICA.

A NON-PARTY GOVERNMENT.

MR MERRIMAN DETACHED

[Pbess Association — Copyright.]

(Received Feb 7, 9.30 p.m.)

London, Feb 7. Th© "Daily Mail's" Capetown correspondent reports that Mr Botha, Mr J. o. Smuts and Dr Jamieson, are willing to assist to form a non-party Government, but Mr Merriman is detached.

Mr Merriman, speaking at Worcester, after consultation with Mr Botha, who is at Capetown, advised the Progressives to get out of the little cockleboat coalition idea, which, he said, emanated from Throgmorton Street. Th© Union Government would need ajl possible criticism. Th© South Arrican party embraced national feeling in a broad way, and it looked forward to managing their own affairs without interference. He added: "My idea of a Progressive/ is a man who is fond of borrowing ; who wants to imitate Australia; who admires the Imperial South African Association, which we loath© ; and who has one eye on South Africa and tho other on tho English Stock Exchange." Mr Merriman deprecated an amalgamation of the Bond, Orangia and Sic Hetvolk, but the three might constitute a United South African party, whioh he hoped would be the dominating party of the future.