HELP FOR BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 20889, 22 August 1939, Page 7

HELP FOR BRITAIN

SOUTH AFRICA’S ATTITUDE HOME DEFENCE EFFORTS (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Monday The Government of the Union of South Africa would support Great Britain through thick and thin, declared Mr Robert Howden, who passed through Auckland by the Monterey on his way to Washington to represent the Union Government at the 15th international congress of architects. The Union Government, he said, would support Great Britain through thick and thin. To appreciate the conflict of opinion in the Union, said Mr Howden, it was necessary to realise that, of its 10.000,000 inhabitants, 2,000,000 were white people and 8,000,000 were natives. Of the whites, 57 per cent were Dutch and 34 per cent English, the remainder being foreigners. it could be seen, therefore, that the Dutch, or Afrikaans, were sufficient in number to rule the country. However, because the reasonable type of Dutchman joined with the English in their political views, the Union was able to •have a Government representing a moderate viewpoint. There were still, of course, the extreme Afrikaans. They had always been there and always would be there, and were very actively anti-British in their opinions and actions. They wanted a Republic, but there seemed to be no reason why they would ever achieve a majority vote. Level-headed Section As a result, the Parliament now represented the level-headed section of the people. They were attached firmly to Great Britain and there was no doubt that if Britain were forced into war South Africa would help her. Both the English and Dutch sections of the people represented by Parliament would take this action. Mr Howden also expressed considerable admiration for the Dutchmen in the Government. There were undoubtedly some very brilliant men among them. Speaking of the Union's home defence effort, Mr Howden said the Government was very active in its preparations. The necessity was realised and the Government was facing it very efficiently. Mr Howden's personal opinion was that conscription would ultimately bo brought into operation in the Union.