SOUTH AFRICA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1012, 30 December 1910, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

-.y.. —— MESSRS. FISHER AND FOWLDS .RETURN, THE UNION AND ITS PROSPECTS' By Tolegraph—Press Association— Copyright. Adelaide, December 29. The steamer Aeneas has arrived from South Africa. Mr. Fisher (Australian Prime Minister) and Mr. Fowlds (New Zealand Minister for Education); are among the passengers. Mr. Fisher said nothing, could have excelled the cordial,' demonstrative reception received, in South Africa. Tho people seemed ambitious to make the Union a success.; He was not particularly struck with the nature of the land, although he had been informed that it was good. The way the _ mines were managed was worth travelling a long way to see. The wear and tear and loss of life on 'tho. Rand was appalling. . Believing that representative men. c? the dominions knew -.too little of each other and their countries, he had extended, on ..behalf of his Government, an invitation to the Primo Minister and Leader of the Union Opposition to visit Australia. General Botha would probably accept tiie invitation at an early date. . The division of parties, was more political than racial. Tho recent elections had not been contested on racial lines. . There were possibilities for a Labour Government there, bnt it would always be a black man's oountry, ruled by an aristocracy of.white labour. Mr. Fowlds, interviewed, said he had not observed more bitterness between the English and Dntch than lie had expected in': view of the. recent history of tho country. Tho political parties were more antagonistic than ;was usual in. British communities.. General Hertzog's education policy had been responsible for tho present aeuteness .of the racial feeling. ! .Mr. Fowlds was favourably impressed with the. Dutch jpeoplo: The native question was. tho most perplexing. Ho was 'sorry to. say that many good , people in South Africa entertained heathenish, ideas about the,blacks.