SOUTH AFRICA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9597, 8 February 1910, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

Press Association—Electric Telegraph—Copyright,

Received Monday, at 9.30 p.m

LONDON, Mouday,

The Daily Mail's Capetown correspondent reports that Geuoral Botha (Premier of the Transvaal), Mr J. C. Smuts (Colonial Secretary of the Transvaal), aud Dr Jameson, are willing to assist in forming a non-party Government, but Mr Merrimau (Promier of Gap 3 Colony) is detached from Cape Bond leaders. Mr Merrimau, speakiug at Worcester after a consultation with Geueral Botha, who is at Capetown, advised the Progressives to get out of the little cockle-boat coalition idea, which emanated from Throgmortou-street. The Union Government would need all possible criticism. The South African party embraced the national feeling in a broad way. It looked forward to managing its own affairs without interference. Mr Merrimau 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 we loath, who has one eye ou South Africa and the other ou the English Stock Exchange." Mr Merrimau deprecated the amalgamation of the Bond, Orangia aud the Het Volt; but the three, ho considered, might constitute a Uuited South African Party, which he hoped would be the dominating party of the future.