The Dominion. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1911. THE BOTHA MINISTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1075, 14 March 1911, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1911. THE BOTHA MINISTRY.

Sir Edgar Walton, formerly Treasurer-General of Cape Colony and Sir L. S. Jameson's most influential lieutenant, speaking recently at the Cape, explained why the first Union Parliament had been a gathering particularly dull and drab. The Unionists, he stated, had left public business very mnch in the hands of the Government. They had spoken and voted in a manner would not embarrass the new Ministers and, with this specific object in view, had on occasions refrained from attacking and censuring even .where such action would have been fair and legitimate. This being the policy of Unionists it is interesting to speculate upon the life and colour that might have characterised the first Union Parliament had the Opposition decided upon a policy of whole-hearted criticism and obstruction—and, in it, a dash of pre-election vituperation. A perusal of South Africa's Hdnsard suggests many things. Probably the first set of circumstances to strike a reader is the remarkable tenacity with which the Botha Ministry clings to unconstitutional methods: in short, to the precise mode of governing rendered notorious by Kruger and his army of self-seek-ers. We have already alluded to the Transvaal Treasurer, after tho Transvaal Parliament had censed to exist, and before Union had been inaugurated, signing, without Parliamentary sanction, contracts for public works amounting to about a million sterling. Other cases, less flagrant, but of the same character, have since come to light. Mr. Hull, the Union Treasurer, as a native of Cape Colony and a former member of the Cape Bar, might have been expected to adhere to constitutional courses. His experience of responsible government, however, Ijke the experience of the majority of the Botha Cabinet, is of the scantiest description and, barring explosions in Parliament, he probably finds Krugerian. methods _ the more agreeable ■ and convenient. '"What is the use of asking the consent of Parliament," his speeches seem to imply, "when we have a majority behind usi" On several occasions riioney has been spent months before the vote has come before Parlianient. 1 The : Union. Parliament under General Botha, thanks to the somewhat mysterious non-embarrassment policy of the Opposition, is indeed strongly reminiscent of the days of the Raads. That is more than suggested by Hansard and a member of tho Union Parliament places the question beyond the range of doubt. Mr. C. L. Botha, who represents Bloemfontein, and-, in spite of name and constituency, belongs to the Opposition, is'the central figure in a breezy and rather amusing interview reported in a recent issue of the Gape Times. Asked what has been done in Parliament: Mr. Botha makes reply: "To tell the truth we 'have done very little practical work, for most of the time has been spent on discussing the Estimates which the Government contended should not have been discussed on the ground that the money has already teen spent." The interviewer hazards the remark that the contention, if practical, is scarcely constitutional, and Mr. Botha proceeds to say: "Really, the most important work of the Union, 50 far, has been teaching the Government that Parliament will insist upon having the final say over all expenditure. Ex-ception-must be taken to the Government incurring liabilities without sanction of Parliament." General Botha's Ministry does not appear to have yet mastered the rudiments of constitutional government, and, what is more remarkable, strongly objects to follow the practice of constitutional countries. Another member of the Union Parliament, Sir Aubrey Wools Sampson, has been complaining to his constituents about the floods of talk in the House and the almost entire absence of- legislation. General Botha may desire to gain leisure in which to meditate upon his forthcoming legislation, and, at the same time, to keep the Opposition busy devising ways and means of restricting the Ministry to the narrow path of constitutionalism. Whatever be the true explanation, the fact remains that, t<l the present time, the Union Parliament, legislatively, has accomplished practically nothing. And General Botha's programme for the future is modest to a degree. New Zealand legislators might well look longingly upon South Africa. General Botha addressed a meeting at Wellington, Cape Colony, under the auspices of the Afrikander Bond a few clays before the latestreceived mail , left South Africa. It was what, in New Zealand, would be considered a policy speech in spite of the fact that it was largely devoted to what the Cape Times describes as "generalities about the concord and peace now existing under Union." His Ministry, he informed the meeting, would be satisuod, for tho. present, if it introduced measures to extend irrigation works, assist settlement, and establish a land bank for the Union. This seems to have beeiv all. Defence, internal and external, is not considered pressing: the tariff, concerning which there is -widespread dissatisfaction, must take a back seat: the native population problem is too difficult, it is to be left to the Native Minister: land, liquor, industries, health, education, labour —these, and other intricate subjects, about which so much has been heard, were not deemed worth mentioning by tho Prime Minister. General Botha evidently remembers his schoolboy maxim, fcslina Icnlc. and is determined not to bo impetuous. A good word must bo said about I the South African railways, over which*, however,/ the Botha Miokfcu- j

has had little or no control. These railways are beyond political influence, and, under the Constitution, must be run on "business principles." Such principles regulate their management and no room remains, as in New Zealand, for the idiosyncrasies of Railway Ministers, the 'socalled settlement proposals of General Botha mean, as yet, no more than the placing of indigent whites on land purchased for the purpose by the Government. Unless the Government intends to carry out the scheme irrespective of Parliament legislation will be necessary. But as no Bill has made its appearance the indigent ones may possibly have to wait. A certain air of smug satisfaction among Ministers, and a decided appearance of listless topsyturviness in the public affairs of the country scorn to be the outstanding features of present-day South Africa. Much Parliamentary work is needed. The first years of Union can scarcely ba appropriate for legislative repose. General Botha seems to possess that peculiarly placid typo of temperament with which the Hon. J. Carroll has made us all so painfully familiar.