The Dominion. MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1909. SOUTH AFRICAN UNITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 414, 25 January 1909, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1909. SOUTH AFRICAN UNITY.

The labours of the National Convention, whoso object,is the closer union of South Africa, are expected to terminate within the next few days. According to a cable message which /we publish this morning, Mk.^Watson, cx-Prcmier of the Commonwealth, has been advising the Convention, in an interview given to a Durban papor, to depart from the example of Australia, and adopt a system of unification rather than a federation of States. Tho Capetown correspondent of the London Times '.-'states that while this advice will not be palatable to Natal, it is wholly in accordance with tho views of a; majority of the Convention; The first meeting of the Convention was held on October 12, and though there have been lengthy breaks in the proceedings, it may be said that,, since the date mentioned, continuous consideration has been given by the delegates to the many problems which, it is believed, were raised during the first days of the session. The members of '■■ tho Convention decroed that what" transpired should not bo madoknown until the Constitution had .been drafted and was ready for tho judgment of the South African people. This decision appears to have been fully honoured." True, correspondents on tho spot have not failed to provide their nowspapers with interesting information, and with no less interesting forecasts. Based though these invariably were, "on high authority," they have usually been at variance. The conclusion is accordingly inevitable that, in all probability, both facts and forecasts suffered oqually from lack of a satisfactory foundation. .Considering, however, that, to a man, tho delegate before ever tho Convention met had publicly expressed their opinions, there need, wo think, be little doubt as to what the form of South African union is to be. Those opinions—tho views of the President, Sir Henry de Villiers, included—were, as the Capo Town correspondent of tho Times suggests is still the caso, almost entirely in favour of. For a time soino confusion seemed to exist as to the precise meaning of the torms popularly employed. But closer union societies were formed, lectures wore delivered by eminent men,. and statistical and informative •works wero published, all bearing on the, subject of union. The effect of all this enlightenment has been that men who, a few months ago, supported federation, seem now to be firmly conrinced that a unitary system can alone meet the conditions and satisfy tho aspirations of South Africa.

The Transvaal and Orange River Colony delegates have assuredly voted for unification. Not only is tho current of Dutch sentiment in the two colonies set towards one Parliament and one Government, but—somewhat strange to say—the Progressives there; are also convinced that the unitary is the safer and more economical system. We observe that the Times ' attributes the preference of ,the Progressives for unification to a.feeling on their part that "the great danger of Transvaal politics lies in the pressure exerted by tho back-veld Boer on a Het Tolk Government." This, we believe - ,' is one reason; but there arc others.' .To mention one. At the present time Natal, the Cape, and Rhodesia have ..rather strict anti-touting laws: laws which seek to regulate, and to a large extent, prevent, the free operations of ■ agents in quest of native labour for the Rand. Under linification those laws would, in all likelihood, cease to operate and the natives within the four colonies would be available for the mines, unrestricted by inconvenient colonial enactments. All the Cape delegates, save perhaps Dp. Jameson, are opposed to federation. ■ Me. Mereiman, ' the. Premier,. has spoken strongly and emphatically for unification. Me. Treasurer in the late Progressive ' Government, has been equally outspoken. South Africa, in his estimate', is unable to bear the cost of five Houses of Parliament; five Governments, and five judicial systems. De. Jameson has stated that he would decide for unification were it not for tho difficulties that appear to render the system impossible. The native franchise at the Cape constitutes one of those difficulties; lately even it, we believe, has come to be regarded as not altogether insuperable At first, the Natal Premier was understood, to support Geneeal Botha's schemes,.but just before tho Convention opened he announced his adherenco to federation. The attitude assumed by Natal is not a little curious. Smallest in area of the four, colonies, with.the most explosive material for its population, it ■yet demands the maintenance of its geographical boundaries and the sole right of managing its own internal affairs.

Natal is the only colony that, to judge by its newspapers, has set its heart upon; federation... It is, they say, to be either federation or isolation.- Unfortunately history' and present-day circumstances militate against Natal's determination not to be absorbed in one, unified South Africa. Notwithstanding the domancl that the colony should be left to giiido and control what it. considers concerns itself,'there are critics who hint that Natal is not to-day, and never .wad, in a,position oven to keep order within its own borders. Soveral Imperial regiments—infantry, cavalry, artillery—for many years have .been quartered near the capital, and a ;great, outcry is heard at the mere-sugges-tio'n.of their, removal.' During:tne;recent troubles with the natives, though the Gov-* erhment at Pietermaritzburg declined to accept the assistance of imperial troops, it welcomed the irregular armies that were dispatched from neighbouring colonies to co-operate with the ,'lpcal militia. Only the' other 'day, when it. was necessary to' set up a special' Court "■'for-.:the :trial of Dinizulu, the Zulu chief, Natal. was unable to provide a trained Judge! ■'.toyoccupy the position :,of President. Again an appeal,had to.be;made for.out.'sido assistance'. . Ultimately,', the colony vras permitted to borrow, for-the occasion, Sie William Smith, a Judge of tho iSupremo Court of >the Transvaal. Tho white'. inhabitants of Natal, it is worth stating, still number considerably under 100,000. The whole colony contains only about a half more whites,.than are resident to-day in the city of Wellington and its.suburbs. Electors, in number, do not exceed 22,60'0i' Gape Colony. last;, year'produced more coloured voters .than there are white voters in Natal and Zululand. At this distance the impression tvill occur to many that an increase of white population and an enlargement of its interests would not be incompatible with . good government, in that portion of the sub-continent. The selection of the capital site will be less easily settled than the form of union., Oape Town and Pretoria havo equally powerful claims, tod it would bo wise'to choose one of the two. To build a new capital would bo to approach the ridiculous. '■'.'..-