LOYAL BOER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 171, 12 August 1909, Page 4

LOYAL BOER.

"PLAY THE GAME." [ Speaking at the Hotel Cecil, at a complimentary dinner given in Lis honor (says the Daily Chronicle), Mr. Lionel Phillips, who lias recently returned from South Africa, said the Boer leaders had themselves acknowledged in public that without the war there could not have been to-day a rapprochement between Boer and Britou.

Wether the gift of responsible government be asVriocd to supreme powers of foresight or not, success followed because the Dutch had resolved to play game. But the present growing amity between the people would not have been possible -without the war. Elections took place in the Transvaal Mi an atmosphere of intense suspicion and bitterness. General Botha ami his colleagues came into office pledged to govern upon, enlightened principles regardiless of racial distinctions; They had fulfilled their pledges. The Government of the Transvaal was composed of very capable men determined to ,sec every branch .of the Industry in the country developed. Every one is striving for progress' aand prosperity. The industrial populatioTi •was tending its aid in developing the land, and" the rural population looked with favour upon the success of the mines. The essential thing in South Africa at present was to get awav from the race divisions that had had such a liancfii! mlluenee in the prist, and that process was very rapidly taking place. He thought time would prove South Afric* as rolmst in her readiness to defend imperial interest* as anv other British colony.

I Ho would not like to convey the impression _ that all bitterness against lirnnt Britain hnr] entirely disappeared from South Africa. Tt would' be too much to expect in so short a time. Racial animosity, however, was n diminishin!? quantity, and in (lie Transvaal l va ,l become almost a ncfrlijiiblc niiantitv if It could not be describe,! a* extinct. tiiey know from lvcciit advices, th« unification of (lie Son Hi African Colon- j les wis likely to be accomplii-hd ia ttie i wy near fulure. One Ihinir was certain the wider tbc responsibilities the ll'- Im danger of race division or |)ai" "liuilhiii.