SOUTH IFRICA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14133, 12 February 1910, Page 3

SOUTH IFRICA.

■MR. MERRIMAN’S SPEECH. MR. SMUTS’ VIEW, By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (Received Fob. 12, 8.45 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Feb.’ll. Mr. J, C. Smuts, speaking at Middleburg, said ho believed Mr. Merriman’s Worcester speech had boon greatly misunderstood. Mr. Morriman was an outspoken old warrior, who fired a shot which disconcerted the whole of South Africa, but the situation be created would pass over. “South Africans,” he added, “must got rid of the provincial feeling and seek tire welfare of the whole. I advocate a non-rucia! policy for tho organisation of defence and filling the empty spaces with whites.” [Mr. Morriman advised the Progressives to get out of. their little cockboat coalition idea, which emanated from Throgmorton Street. Referring to the need of a strong Opposition rather than a compromise .Government of all the parties, he said the Government of the Union would need all possible criticism. The South African party embraced national feeling in a broad way. It blocked forward to managing its own affairs without interference. Ho 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 wo loathe!- —who has one eye on South Africa and the other on the English Stock Exchange.” Ho deprecated an amalgamation of the Afrikander Bond, the Orangia Unie, and the Hot Volk (which are the Dutch political associations in Capo Colony, the Orange River Colony, and the Transvaal v''=i”' - etiv'’ly), but said that the three might constitute a united South African party, which he hoped would bo the dominating party of the future.]