UNITED SOUTH AFRICA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 966, 5 November 1910, Page 5

UNITED SOUTH AFRICA.

' AN HISTORIC EVENT. THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OPENED. SPEECH BY THE OUKE. MESSAGE OF GREETING FROM DO GEORGE

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Rec. November 5, 0.20 a.m.) Capo Town, November 4. The inauguration of tho first Union Parliament took place this morning in superb weather. Tho Royal party, headed by the Duke of Connaught, and followed by the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Gladstone and staff, led tho procession from Government House through the principal thoroughfares of tho city to Parliament House. Tho streets were lined with troops and thronged with enthusiastic crowds. Tho procossion reached Parliament House at noon and the Duke was received by the President of.tho Senate (Mr. F. W. Reitz) and the Speaker of the Assembly (Mr. Molteno), after which he proceeded to tho Assembly Chamber.

The Dnke of Connaught then delivered his speech and the King's Message, and Lord Gladstone his opening speech. After' this formal inauguration Parliament met for. business. THE DUKE'S SPEECH. Router's Agency reports that tho following is'the text of tho Duke of Connaught's speech:— Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly—

Mr. Lemioux conveyed tho fraternal greetings of Canada. He alluded to the transition from war to union as the greatest miracle of British constructive genius, and . urged the application to South Africa 1 of the Canadian principles Of welding tho races, promising- the same most satisfactory results. Mr. Fowlds reminded his hearers of the faot that Sir Georgo Grey had been recalled from .South Africa' half a century ago'because bo favoured responsible government. He urged that South I Africa was geographically one of tho keystones of tho Imperial arch, and it had great prospects if mutual respcot, goodwill, and toleration characterised jtlie relations of the peoples. Ho praised' the qualities of tho Dutch, than whom 'none wero moro loyal subjoots of tho I Crown. "Tho Union." j ; Lord De Villiers, Chief Justice, in ■proposing "The Union of South Africa," laid stress on , the assertion that thero 'was no real facial difficulty in South 'Africa, emphasising tho fact'regarding .the language question that tho fittest would survive;' ■ Thp ex-Premier of Capo Colony (Mr. |Merriman), replying, said ho had never feared trifles I ', liko the difference of language. If South Africa .was ever to become a great people it would bo in tho modo of treatment of, tho na- ■ tivos, which must be ill the way of ! justice of treatmeiitj freedom, and tolerance. THE SIMONSTOWN CEREMONY. CAPE NAVAL BASE. Gapa Town, November 4. In tho presence of a representative gathering, numbering 2000, and including members, of tho Union' Ministry, tho Duke of Connaught laid tho completion stono of , the dock, and pressed a. button admitting tho water. In a speech tho Dnko said that while South Africa was no longer merely a link in..the chain of Imperial communications, her importance as a naval base survived, aiid t-lio f dock was practical recognition of that fact.

On February 21, last my beloved and deeply-lamented brother, King Edward, in a speech in the Imperial Parliament, dwelt on tho establish- j ment of the Union of South Africa, I and his. desire that his son, then . Prince of Wales, should make an extended tour through the Dominion, and open in his name tho first ses- ' sion of tho now Parliament. But by tho inscrutable ordering of events that purpose, charged with so deep ' an interest and meaning for all his > subjects,' both hero and- at Home, was not to bo fulfilled. Tho sudden calamity which within a few' weeks bereaved the Empire of its revcrod Sovoreign, thus fell with particular severity on South Africa , herself. It broke the chain of close abiding forethought which had linked my illustrious,brother,to the welfare of this great territory, and effaced at one blow all • those, wollplacecl arrangements for doing high honour. to tho birth of tho Union Parliament, which,held a prominent place in his thoughts, oven during the closing hours of his life.

goodwill of four and a half millions of whito people. Members of Parliament, ho urged, should speak their thoughts openly, thus enabling a settlement of ..the remaining differences as early as possible. Since his arrival in South Africa he had seen a happy, contented peoplo, with a small minority who shook thoir heads mournfully over, what had occurred. He did not agree with them; nothing had taken place in tho world's history in recent times which would havo a greater effect on the world. than tho South African Union. They had now five nations willing to co-operate in common affairs and wider concerns affecting tho interest of civilised humanity. Mr. Fisher warmly suggested tho idea of delegations perambulating the world from one Dominion to another, and giving enoouragement, perhaps criticism. In conclusion, Mr. Fisher offered a welcome from tho Australian peoplo and Parliament.

Canadian and New Zealand Greetings

MESSAGE FROM THE KINC. ' "I have it in. command from tho King to convey to Soiith Africa tho oxprossion of his keen and profound regret that lio for the present has been deprived of the gratification of coming amongst you in person. To have been ■ here upon ; this " great historic occasion would have been to his Majesty, and'.' also to fcho Queen, an inestimable pleasure, but ■ the imperativo and pressing duties and labours which at this timo crowded upon his Majesty mako it impossible for the King to be. absent from the . Mother Country. His Majesty .thcroforo conferred upon mo the honour of representing him to-day. He has bidden me to assure you of his heartfelt gratitude for the warm sympathy extended by the whole of South Africa to himself and family in the irreparable loss they havo sustained. The King, as you aro well aware, is no stranger to' tho Dominions boyond the seas. His association with them is lifelong, and they hold a large place in his heart. His Majesty well knows that you have passed through fire and sorrow, and trouble and misunderstanding; and that conflict has brought calamity upon tho land."