PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1924, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATES.

impressions of south AFRICA. obkAt productive Assets,

WELL!NOTON. November 20. Two of New Zealand's Parliamentary delegates who visited South Alrietl, the Hon. A. F. Hawke mid Air .T. Horn, member for AVakatipu, returned today. Of the remaining members of the delegation Sir John J.uke is proceeding to England and Ah’ E. J. Howard stayed over at Adelaide. Air ilawkc in giving his impressions of a successful and pleasant tour, gave credit to the South African authorities for the manner in which the visiting delegates had been entertained and their touring facilities managed. In this connection he referred particularly to the railway system of South Afina. The train in which the delegates travelled was an excellent, one. It appeared that the Union railways catered for their travellers in a more liberal form than other Dominions. Sleeping charges were much more liberal. BACTAL RELATIONS IMPROVING.

Touching briefly upon the political situation Afr Hawke expressed the opinion that Dutch and British were coming much closer together. Perhaps there had liccii faults on both sides, but they were disappearing, and if Goneral llerty.og, the present Prime .Minister. could remain in power for a few years they should almost disappear. South Africa would then he on the road towards becoming a great nation. From experiments being carried out and from what the delegates saw in different parts of the Union and in Rhodesia lie thought that cotton had a big future, but it was to he hoped tlmt tho cotton which was being grown now* would he looked alter by the f»o\ornmeut and that a promising product would not he allowed to go undei throuttli want of proper advite and instruction. Putting tile “poor white” on cotton farms was a very doubtful experiment unless lie was watched tei\ cloxelv and made to carry out instructions. The use of native labour in the mines, on the wharves, on the streets and roads and in other ways had been a great asset in developing the towns, harbours, mines, etc. Much less white labour was employed as compared with the ether three dominions and the cost was very much less. “'lt- is difficult for one to sav it can be done away with.” said Air Hawke, “I don t see that native labour can he dropped until smite other way is found for making

the- native productive on his own country in the Union. He is not a good asset on the farm and I think a white farm labourer would do ten times more work, except when ploughing with oxen. Tlie native seems to suit in that respect.” From what he had seen and from w bat lie bad gathered he thought the (loverninent was on good lines towards making the native a producer in his own territory, both to lii.s own advantage’ and to the benefit of the export trade. If this could he brought about it would lv ;i big asset to the Union and tin* native would become a much better British subject than he’ was at present. C'OAI. AND SUCIAB. Coal in years to come was going to be one of South Africa's biggest assets. It seemed to' be obtainable everywhere’. First-class steam and cohe coal was abundant. also brown eii’il. In Natal the sugar industry was another big asset of the future. When it was mauiifiiei'ired for shipment to e t her parts it wimht have to eiilllpcte with .lava and nlliei '''litres

of prod ui'l ton. Bel luifs ft would not tbon be a payable proposition, lie ilt- - peel ed several isugar plantations. Values ranged frem £l2 to £29 per a el'e. It was staled that at tin's” in ires farmers made good interest. at Is to 2'Js a ton. with a yield of twelve |.. or lit ’"'ll I’M. t. th" a*.i'". In Natal the rai’o was till every other ve.arj and in-planted '.’Vi|ry ten to twelve years. The Union's debt of about £200.900.II:;;) was light when it was e onsiilrree! that then’ were some’ 10.090 or 11.000 miles of railways, four big harbours, etc. There was | Irnly of room for a greater white population ami flu’ I'liimi should not hesitate to lniineli out and help its own native- born whiles to iiml a let for their energies and also enable more white folk from ibo homeland to settle. These were wanted it South Afriea was to he made a white man's hind.

Doalinn with the Innnntn rosnniTOS of South Africa .Mr I l:i« U<* expressed -tin' opinion tliiit in (lit* next liltn'ii nr twenty yours merino Hooks wmilil inorciiso tu forty millions, perlia|s t" Hitv millions. So Ini' n.s cattle wore oonoorooi) tlioy \vo:o n poor lot. such n.s wore soon from the railways null t lit* roads. ’• llnlr of lliom siionlil !'o." In* remarked. ‘'lmt lliis is :i diliionli problem mul will take n lone timo, Imt it shoo]) inn In* increased mol n l«*tt <-r standard olitninoil it "ill In* ■> •ri'onl asset lo tlio I'nioii. Tlioro is ninnlry lo carry tin* nunilior I Imvo iiiontionoil. lint it needs to In* made, mul also, perhaps mon to work it. To this i-iiiinoi'tion tlio Tninn ciinlil "oil afford to nttonil In tlio roads on as to upon op tin* country. '>