Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY MARCH 9, 1907. 'EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8759, 9 March 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY MARCH 9, 1907. 'EDITORIAL NOTES

The Transvaal elections are over, and the country has chosen to give the representatives of Hetvolk a r large majority. Even in the excitement of victory the new Premier, ex-General Botha, appears to be showing great self-restraint, and has taken up a conciliatory attitude which we must admit causes us some surprise. His message to the British geopto £riteis will owes bare LJtl 3 atfe

chubs to regret the trust placed in the Boer people, who‘.have faith in the Transvaal’s future, believing that prosperity and contentment are achievable by legislating in the interests of all, must appeal to the feelings of the whole Empire. It seems to be inspired by a true desire to forget the past and to unite the two races which have so long been enemies, and is particularly valuable at a moment when, the power having fallen into the hands of the Dutch, it was not necessary for Botha to keep up appearances merely to secure votes. The message from the Times correspondent at Pretoria, who must bo bitterly disappointed at the turn affairs have taken, that all parties seem inclined to regard the new Ministry wjth a friendly and sympathetic feeling* speaks well for the future prospects of union'between the two races. We hope that the Transvaal Ministry will carry on the Government of the country_ in the same excellent spirit m which the task has been begun. The new Ministers have a magnificent opportunity, and they will have the sympathy and support of the whole Empire in their difficult work.

The new Premier of the Transvaal has naturally been invited to the Conference of Colonial Premiers, but we note with regret that some of Tory journals in England are endeavouring to make his position difficult by staling that the Imperial. Government are credited with the desire to persuade him to execute their policy with regard to Chinese labour in order to save the face of the Eadicals. The Pretoria correspondent of the Morning Post, a strongly Conservative paper, says that the invitation has embarrassed Botha, who is anxious to avoid the suspicion of ignoring the union of the Transvaal with the Empire, and public opinion is also disturbed. The Post adds that the Liberal Government may injure Botha it the impression given is that his position is to be used for party purposes in England instead of allowing Transvaal questions to bo settled on its own terms. Such statements as these are the product of the imaginations of those who make them, and are designed to put difficulties in the way of the new Ministry. Johannesburg and Pretoria correspondents of Tory papers are not likely to bo informed as to the intentions of the British Ministry nor is it probable that they are in the confidence of Botha. Tney are simply providing news which they think will bo acceptable to the readers of tho journals with which they arc connected, and do a great deal of injury to the cause of Imperial Union by their mischiefmaking suggestions. Many of our readers must have already noted that the cabled intelligence as to the course of British politics is uniformly unfavourable to the present Ministry, and the above is merely another example of ibe general tendency to give prominence to the views of the Conservative party.