WORLD COURT RULING

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 1

WORLD COURT RULING

The rejection by the World Court of complaints against South Africa’s administration in Southwest Africa would remove the air of uncertainty that had surrounded this area for the last six years, the Consul - General for South Africa in New Zealand (Mr A. J. Oxley) said in Christchurch yesterday.

Mr Oxley said the decision would lead to a feeling of greater security in South Africa. Large-scale plans for development of the territory would now proceed with a greater degree of certainty. “At this stage I am not sure of the actual terms of the judgment or if there are any reservations,” Mr Oxley said. “It will certainly remove the uncertainty, and it appears to be a great victory for South Africa. Large-scale plans involving the expenditure of more than £75 million in the next five years are

already under way. These will now be continued with an even greater determination.”

Mr Oxley said the future of South Africa depended to a large degree on the effectiveness of mandatory sanctions. So far some sanctions had been attempted, but they had met with little success. Many countries had indicated that they were reluctant to impose such measures.

“I returned to South Africa this year after a five-year absence,” Mr Oxley said. “Industrially and economically the country is booming. “There is a general air of bustle and dynamism and a surging enthusiasm everywhere. It is shared by all races and all sections of the community. “The non-whites looked happy and healthy. They are becoming increasingly keen to participate in the growing educational facilities being offered them. “The sale of new cars in South Africa at the moment averages just under 400 a day. This is only one Indi'cation of the growing prosI perity. 7

“If anything, the climate of sanctions has paradoxically speeded up the industrial development of South Africa.” Mr Oxley said. "We have had to safeguard our future by developing and reinforcing those areas of our economy in which we could be vulnerable to external pressures. “The abundance of South Africa's natural wealth is staggering. We produce more than two-thirds of the free world’s supply of gold, and more than half the supply of diamonds. At the present rate of consumption our coal supply will last more than 2000 years. Although it is low grade, we are now able to produce one-sixth of our petrol requirements. “We are continuing to probe for natural oil supplies, and recent indications are hopeful. In the last four years almost £70,000 has been invested in new industries dally, and 30 per cent of this has come from abroad. This indicates that the outside world has a good deal of faith in the future of South Africa," Mr Oxley said. I (Court’s judgment, Page 13)