SOUTH AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 26, 25 October 1921, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICA

TRADE DEPRESSION GENERAL SMUTS’S STRONG POSITION Tho Union of South Africa is passing through a very severe local phase of tho. depression which has descended upon tho rest of tho world. It was one of the last countries in tho world to feel the effects of tho depression which began in Europe in October last, for it was not until tho middle of February or March that the effects began to be seriously felt, but at the moment there is general stagnation in the country, said the Cape Town correspondent of tho "Sydney Morning Herald,’,’ writing on September 9. There is a large amount of unemployment, and as is usual in such circumstances tho Government is coming in for considerable obloquy. This, however, is street corner abuse of the usual type, and on the whole public opinion is not shaken in its confidence in the capacity of General Smuts and his Alinisters to pull the country through its financial and economic difficulties. At the same time tho position ’is all the more acute because tho country had become accustomed to the prosperity which it had enjoyed since the establishment of the Union 11 years ago. Nationalist Movement. Eighteen months ago a general election was fought in South Africa at a moment when the cost of living was weigning very heavily upon tho working classes. General Smuts found his. activities as leader of the South African Party severely handicapped by the menace of the Nationalist movement, winch, under the leadership of General Hertzog, placed secession from the British Empire in the forefront of its electoral platform. General Smuts realised thus early that the movement must be fought in the open, and settled, if South Africa were to have any peace. After the election General Smuts retained office and with the whole-hearted support of the Unionist Party was able to pass drastic legislation, which had the effect of removing many of those causes of unpest which had contributed so largely to tho strength of the Labour Party at the previous election. The Nationalists resumed their campaign for secession, and General Smuts, leading moderate opinion throughout South Africa, took tho bold course of planning an amalgamation of the South African Party and the Unionist Party. The Unionists, under the leadership of Sir Thomas Smartt, responded to the Primo Alinisters appeal; all difficulties were swept aside in the enthusiasm of racial co-operation; and within a few weeks of effecting the amalgamation General Smuts determined once more to appeal to the electorate. The poll placed the Prime ADmster nt tho head of a consolidated South African Party with an overwhelming majority over anv possible combination against him in the Assembly. Broadly, the eifect of General Smuts’s great victory at tho polls has been to push tho old racialism far into the background. ever, tho Nationalist Press remains determinedly anti-British.

Industrial Situation. Our exports, consisting! of such staple products as wool, hides and skins, ostuch feathers, mob air, and so forth, have been caught in the world’s slump; prices have sagged enormously, and are actually lower than before the war, and lor many months enormous quantities oi wool and similar produce were held up at the ports awaiting a market. Grave anxiety also prevails owing to the situation on the gold mines of the Rami, where 14 or 15 of tho lower-grade mines, employing many thousands of Europeans, were eking out a bare existence, the cost of prodluotion having increased to a point which left only tho barest margin of profit. - The State finances are also causm o some anxiety. The union has Loen st> accustomed for many years to substantial surpluses, that the possibility, indeed, the high probability, of a serious deficit at the end of the current year is littl« relished. Mr. Burton, the Finance Minister, had to cope with an expenditure of 291 millions sterling, and a revpniie from'then existing sources of about Jot millions sterling. This, of course necessitated drastic taxation, and the method adopted was to stiffen the income tax, to grade the super tax more steeply, to reduce the limit of exemption from inwnw tax in the case of married persons from to K3OO, to impose a very necessary excise on tobacco, to raise stamp duties and postage rates, and, in certain respects, to readjust Customs dues. Under all headings of taxation in the Budget scheme as now in operation, the revenue is expected to be about 18 millions sterling, which works out at about £l9 Bs. per head of white population, as compared with the P re -'™r proportion of taxation per head of £lO 13« 4d. Tho public revenue depends so largely upon Customs duties on imports tlrat the finances are gravely affected by a slump in trade, such as is now in progress, and at present there are no n-dl-cations of an early improvement, tnougli no ono believes that the depression will be very prolonged.

Status of Rhodesia. A strong movement began a year oi two ago for the establishment in Rhodesia of full- responsible government, eliminating tho Charter Company from its present administrative position. Broadly, tho public opinion in Rhodesia was divided at the electoion on the issue whether it would bo more desirable for Rhodesia to enter the Union of South Africa or to aim at, tho sTtitus of a celtgovcriiing colony under the British Crown. When the last election took place in Rhodesia a strong, indeed an overwhelmitm majority for responsible government was returned, and negotiations hove now been opened with tho Imperial Government, and a delegation is on its way to London to hammer out the terms o. , a self-governing constitution, which, uwer the plans proposed, would Ire submitted in the form of a referendum to the people of Rhodesia perhaps six months h< The first effect of General Smute’s triumph has been in Rhodesia considerably to modify the views of the electorate on the desirability of Responsible government, and a petition is now beiire presented to the Secretary of State in London, signed by 8000 adults out of a total pojiulation (white) of 33,000, asking that when the referendum is, placed before the country the electorate, shall have the opportunity of exercising a choice between responsible government and entry info the union. General Smuts has indicated a means of reaching a provisional arrangement, ’ana the method is by a sort of convention between representatives of the Union and of Rhodesia, who thrash out details nf a settlement at a round fable conference. But the Prime Minister has pointed out very clearly ihat the Union Government would . welcome the early admission of Rhodesia. At the same time he has indicated certain general principles guiding the policy in this regard of tho Union Government. When Union v.as established in South Africa, Natal; and Free Slate were given representation in the Union Parliament, cohsiderahly in excess of their electoral qualifications. This principle will bo applied in* the ease of Rhodesia, which could probably reckon on receiving from 12 to 15 seat’ in (he Parliament pf the Union. Of' even greater imnorfance is General Smnts’s assurance that the Union i onld bo prepared to make, the nece«“nrv lb ancial provision for acquiring "at once” on hohnlf of tho State the chief neans of development in Rhodesia. This may be taken to mean that Union Government would be prepared to buy out, lick,

MENTAL HOSPITAL NURSE FINED • * r TROUBLE WITH A PATIENT. An unusual prosecution was heard before Mr. J. W- Poynton, S.M., in the Auckland Polieo Court, when a young woman, formerly a nurse at the Auckland Alontal Hospital, denied having struck a patient at the institution. The information was laid under the Alental Defectives Act. Air. Singer appeared for defendant. Robert Alartin Beattie, superintendent, of the institution, said that on August 1G ho examined a female patient who had sustained a swelling on the right side of the head, a swollen nose, a "black eye,” and abrasions on the cheek. The patient was unable to give him any information as to how the injuries were caused. Witness spoke to defendant next day. and she denied' any assault on her part,' later defying linn to prove it. Cross-examined", witness said one of tho witnesses he was going to call was a patient who was slightly maniacal at times, but who was. nt (he time of (lie assault nnd subsequently, capable of giving ..reliable evidence. Witness applied for leave to prosecute on September 22. The aliened assault occurred in the special dining-room where, there were about 25 patients, troublesome hut not dangerous. Fights between patients were comparatively rare. Witness had not heard that any of the patients in tho special dining-room were fighting on the evening of August 14 or that one of them was the woman concerned in this case. Defendant did not tell him on August 17 aljout an assault having taken place. Ho dismissed her that day. Had she given an explanation or apologised ho probably would not have brought the charge, but ho had the ifea of a prosecution in his mind ell the time. "" The charge nurse at tho institution said she was called into the special dining-room nnd saw the patient concerned with blood on her face. Tn reply to witness as to why she had done that, defendant replied: "Well, she deserved it.” Cross-examined, witness said the injured woman was a troublesome patient. Several of the patients did fight. ' A patient gave evidence to (he effect that after trouble with the patient in the case defendant took off her slipper and struck her in the face. Witness described what led up to the blow. Defendant had been ' kicked. Grgssexaminod, witness said she did not see a certain pafient do anything. There was no fight between patients. Vi ifness was further questioned as to her relations with and (feeling tdward <l&fendant. Further evidence was given by two uu rses. Counsel said (he defence was a.denial of any assault. lie submitted that there was a reasonable doubt that an, assault had taken place on the grounds of the ler.gth of time which had elapsed, the sparseness of tho evidence, the unrelia* bility of the patient’s evidence, and Dr. Beattie’s attitude. Defendant, in evidence, said she was alone in the special dining room on the evening of August 14’. The patients frequently quarrelled. She had some trouble with a certain patient, but had restored her to her seat when she commenced to annoy another patient. There was a scene, and the latter patient pulled her shoo off and was going to strike tho first patient when witness interfered. She had a strenuous time. When the charge nurse came in and asked what was the trouble witness said the patient had received what she deserved. When seen by Dr. Beattie witness told him all that had occurred. Witness gave evidence as to what had occurred between her and the patient who gave evidence both before and after tho incident. > Th® Magistrate said ho must find that defendant had assaulted the patient. It was a very grave offence in law, but in this case probably arose from inexperience. He must take into consideration the extreme provocation, defendant’s .youth, and tho fact that she had been dismissed. Defendant was fined £2. Tn view of the fact that defendant was only 18 tho Afagistrate granted an application that’her name should not be published. T/eave to appeal was refused, but the Alagistrate said that if fresh evidence were obtained defendant could apply for a rehearing.