SOUTH AFRICAN TRIBUTE

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22141, 9 December 1941, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICAN TRIBUTE

Goodwill To The Dominion

Closer Co-operation Necessary

“I would like to convey the goodwill the people of South Africa feel toward the people of New Zealand; their admiration for the performances of New Zealanders in the field, both in the present and in the last war, and the interest the people of South Africa show in the social legislation carried out in New Zealand,” said Mr Leslie Blackwell. K.C. M.P., Johannesburg, an envoy from General Smuts, Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, in a broadcast address on Sunday. During his remarks Mr Blackwell said that his visit was well-timed, as both Dominions were fighting for liberty against a common foe, and a fine tribute had been paid to the South African soldiers by the statement which had been made to the effect that they were as good as the New Zealanders. Mr Blackwell mentioned that from a white population of 2,000,000, an army of 120,000 had been established, half of whom bore Afrikaan names. In the field of war supplies, although South Africa was not a highly industrialised nation, it was turning out large quantities of steel for howitzers and was manufacturing arms and ammunition Huge quantities of army blankets were being made, and it was said that the boots made from South African leather were the best in the Middle East,

Everywhere he had been struck by the admiration paid to General Smuts, Mr Blackwell continued, whose statesmanship was regarded as being in the same class as that of President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill. He wished his hearers could realise how inspiring a leader General Smuts was. Although 71 years of age, he possessed a strength and -vigour which would be envied by men 20 years his Junior. They hoped he would be spared to lead them, not only through the war, but in the reconstruction after peace was restored.

Mr Blackwell mentioned that South Africa had no diplomatic representatives in Canberra or at Wellington, and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand had no representatives in South Africa. It was his conviction that the three great democracies which comprised the southern half of the British Empire should keep in closer touch with each other. He understood that, as a result of his visit, Australia would send a representative to South Africa, and he hoped that New Zealand would be able to do the sam» as much of mutual benefit would accrue.