A MAD WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20539, 14 February 1935, Page 1

A MAD WORLD.

General Hertzog’s Address to Press Conference. CAPE TOWN, February 7. A brilliant gathering attended the Union Government’s banquet to the Empire Press Conference delegates at the Queen’s Hotel, Sea Point, with the Prime Minister, General Hertzog, in the chair. The toast. “ Our Guests,” was proposed by the Minister of the Interior, Mr Hoffmeyr, who, earlier in the day, had given the conference an absorbing survey of bi-lingualism in South Africa. A nephew of the great African statesman of earlier days, known to all as Ons Jans, Mr Hoffmeyr told the delegates that they would find in Africa diversity in essential unity.

Africans, he said, were becoming more and more convinced that things that unite were of greater importance than things that divide. The Union was achieving unity not by the elimination of variety and diversity, but by the frank admission of points of difference and the acceptance of equality as a basis of unity. Declaring that they were living in a mad world to-day, General Hertzog said he could not perceive any force more competent or more potent in taking upon itself the task of giving guidance and inspiration to a world in difficulties than the Press of the British Common wealth. That was the great task imposed upon it. Major Astor (England). Mr Norman Smith (Canada) and Mr D. W. M’Cay (Australia) replied for the visiting delegates.