The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1928. A VEXED QUESTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast T i m es. THURSDAY, JANUA RY 26, 1928. A VEXED QUESTION.

Onb ol the greatest obstacles to the development mid iiuTcnring pio-qicrily of South Ati n a during tlie 1 "<> vesirs li;iliven removed I>v ;m muieiihh' .settlement, having heon arrived tit between what limy be hrondly desorbed •is the Dutch and English sections of the population of the l nion with regard to a national flag. Ihe ootmm its a whole recognised the necessity for having a national ling, hut with regard to the design there was a. clearcut cleavage. One section, consisting of that portion of the Dutch now in a majority in Parliament, and the Labor Party, composed mostly o! men ol British extraction, who support them, wanted a Hag in which the ('nion Jack should not appear; the other section, consisting of the great majority of the British people in the Union, and of the loyal Dutch, headed hv General Smuts, would be satisfied with nothing less than the inclusion of the t'nion I Jack to occupy a quarter ol the Hag. Bcpeatcd attempts at a compromise failed, a concession to include the ( njon Jack together with the two Hags of the old republics in a shield upon the flag "being rejected as not (arming an integral part of flic flag. Feeding had been mounting higher and higher, and a special session of Parliament was opened on October 14th. with the specific object ot passing the Flag Bill, after which the i|iiestion wa« to he submitted to a referendum to take place early next. year. Fortunately, at the elevnth hour a real desire for a satisfactory compromise was manifested, and a few meetings between the loaders of both sides led to a. successful solution. The placing of a small shield on the flag has been abandoned, and the T'nion Jack and the two old republican flags are now integral parts of the new national Hag, being arranged in the form of a cross with the Union Jack horizontal and towards the flagstaff.. With surprising rapidity this settlement was not only accepted by all. hut led to rejoicings in which both sections took part; the previous bitterness has disappeared, and a welcome spirit of mutual friendliness has replaced it. The settlement is hound to have an enormous influence in promoting the development of the country, the expansion of its industries, an influx of capital from abroad for this purpose, and a resumption of the immigration oT suitable settlers. It is well-known that the flag question, and the feeling it had engendered, had made capitalists disinclined to invest their money in a country in which a serious uoheacal might take place at anv time, while for the same reason intending settlers either decided to wait and see what would happen, or. worse still, went elsewhere, while a good many people mostly British left the Union and went to Rhodesia where there is no flag trouble but an intense British sentiment. Everywhere following the settlement of the vexed question of the Flag, a spirit of optimism prevailed, and the merchant folk found an immediate lift in business. This is altogether satisfactory, and confirms the general feeling of contentment throughout the Empire. The name of Great Britain stands high all the world over, and nowhere does it stand higher than throughout its own Empinei whore unity is enjoyed find is the main plank in that solidarity which creates the confidence for the whole. What has transpired in South Africa further assures the prestige of the British Empire throughout the world.