SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 994, 8 December 1910, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS.

LABOUR PARTY AND MR. -FISHER. By Tcleffraph—Press Assodation-GoDyriEttt. Cape Tov/n,' December 7. The Labour party held a conversazione for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr. A. Fisher (Federal Premier) and Mr. G. Fowlds (New Zealand Minister for Education). Several .Labour members wero present.The chairman said they were interested in the Australian G<r<ernment, this being the. first time in. the history of/ representative government when men. from, their own. ranks had shown they' were capable of legislating as well as otheas. Mr. Fisher, in replying, referred to tho disorganisation aed the conflicting views held by Labourites in different pans of South Africa, and emphasised the need of unity and a coherent .policy. IMPERIAL UNION. MB, FOWLDS SUGGESTS NEW NAVAL SCHEME. - " ! (Eec. Dec. 8, 0.25 a.m.) Cape Town, December 7. There was an influential attendance at tho farewell banquet given by the Chamber of Commerce in honour of Messrs. .Fisher and Fowlds. .Mr. Fisher, in responding to his health, commended South Africa's unitary constitution. He said he thought trade arrangements would not help closer union, and dwelt on the urgency of the Australian defence scheme. A tribute was also paid to the South Africans' earnestness to make the Union successful. Mr. Fowlds suggested the possibility of a great southern confederation, with, a single naval .plan. Mr. Burton, - Minister for Native-Af-fairs, said that-if the Enipifo could be knitted by artificial bond;, it would be through the interchange of visits. The keynote of the speeches was closer union through freedom. "When passing Capo Town, the Duke of .Connaught in tho Balmoral Qastle sent a wireless message conveying Christmas greetings to the citizens.