SOUTH AFRICA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18353, 26 August 1929, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

SOME INTERESTING COMPARISONS. Some interesting comparisons between South Africa and New Zealand were made by Professor L. G. Pocock, of Canterbury College, in an interesting address on “South Africa,” delivered at the Workers Education Association rooms on Saturday night. In opening Professor Pocock spoke of the great privilege it was to belong to the British Empire. It was possible to travel all round the world, and to feel at home all the time. New Zealand was a happy community with no really serious problems, and there was a great deal of difference in the atmosphere of the two countries. The climate of South Africa, he thought, was infinitely preferable to the climate of New Zealand. It was much more beautiful to live in, with more sunshine, resultant richer colours, and a more interesting landscape. The New Zpaland climate, however, taken all round, was more useful, and there was an absence of the damaging droughts experienced in South Africa. In South Africa they had mixed races, and a record of strife and bloodshed, while in this country the relation between the Maori and the white people was a pattern for all the world to follow. In South Africa, the people were very exictable, and the least political folly would fan the smouldering enmities into flame; a vast contrast to the people of New Zealand, who were probably the best-tempered folk in the world. War, bloodshed and strife were bad things, but a country like South Africa, with its past, had a certain amount of romance and drama that was not possessed by this Dominion. Conditions of life in the towns of the two countries was very similar—they were much the same the world over. In South Africa, however, there was the racial difference. In the towns, the Dutch and English got on very well together, the former tending to become anglicised. But to go into the country districts of South Africa was to step into a different world, and the countryside was mainly Dutch. There were two different languages, and the majority spoke very little English. It was a country of great distances and big farms: news circulated very slowly, and the horse was still the chief means of conveyance. The English spoken in South Africa was affected by the Dutch spoken in the country, and was quite distinctive. There was a tendency to slur the “h,” not drop it like the Cockney, and the syllable “ar” was very noticeable. They called “park” "pork,” and cart “caught.” Outlining the history of the country, the speaker dealt with the Boer War, and spoke of the time when the English language became the official language. Since the Act of Union, much political propaganda had been carried out, and recently the Dutch language had been placed on an equal footing with the English. Teachers now had great difficulty in finding positions if they could not speak both languages. The Cape Dutch was an exceptionally vivid conversational tongue, and very expressive. The Dutch physique was magnificent; the land was high, and the climate healthy. The people of South Africa were excellent at all forms of sport, and played games with great vigour. They were a highly in- , telligent people, and on the whole, a [ very upright race in their private lives. Unfortunately, a large proportion of the country people were very ignorant and narrow-minded, being easily led. They had the characteristics of the Dutch rp.ee—courage, and were very hospitable. Dealing with the dramatic situation in 1914, the speaker said that it was a most trying one for the Premier of the day, General Botha, who was a fine upstanding man. The difficulties were many and complicated, and were aggravated by the mutiny of some of the Army leaders, and many other happenings caused by racial feeling. Nevertheless, South Africa, led by General Botha and General Smuts, occupied German East Africa. The speaker also made reference to the flag controversy, saying that General Hertzog, the present Premier, who was anti-British, had become much milder since assuming power. The position in South Africa to-day was distinctly hopeful.