SMITH AFRICAN ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1920, Page 4

SMITH AFRICAN ELECTIONS

TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CADLE ASSOCIATION] CAPETOWN, December 10.: ! General Hertzog, the well-known Nationalist Leader, has issued an extra , ordinary manifesto at Bloemfontein. j The Manifesto declares that the Imperialistic policy of the South African j Union Government is responsible in South Africa, for the increasing want, the poverty, tho high cost of living;

the increased price of shop goods; rto dislocation of the exchange; tile want of markets for export; the lack of money, and credit pressure being exercised by tho Banks. General Hertzog accuses the Government of conspiracy with the British trading interests to bring about the economic downfall of Africa.

Regarding the question of a South African Republic tlie manifesto states that; -while not surrendering the desire for independence, the right time lias not arrived. Tlie 'Nationalists, he gays, have the right to say that they do not wish to bring this matter tc the vote at the next elections. The Manifesto denies that the Nationalists are ' actuated by the jaeial motives. It declares that the ideal of the. Nationalist Party is : —Sovereign independence at the right time. It is not the right time yet. The fundamental reason for their repub lican movement, it states, is to secure equality for the British and the Dutch in South Africa.

Reverting to the Imperialistic policy of the Government, General Hertzog refers to “the activity of the British imperialistic trades people and politicians to possess themselves of monopolies of all our economic sources and means of help.” He declares—“ The aim and object of this combination of conspiracy ts nothing less than to get us economically in their power, and to bind us in such a way that, for years, we should he the helpless prey of the Imperial trade interests and of Imperial covetousness.”