STRONG FEELING SHOWN IN AFRICAN DERATE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 53, 25 May 1927, Page 13

STRONG FEELING SHOWN IN AFRICAN DERATE

STRIFE OVER FLAG QUESTION OF LOYALTY By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright CAPETOWN, Monday. The public interest in the second reading of the Flag Bill in the House of Assembly was unprecedented, and every corner of the gallery was filled v- T ?® , Mlniste r of the Interior, Dr. D. F Malan, who is in charge of the BUI in explaining the measure, first dealt with the clauses regarding nationality which require three years’ residence. The Minister laid stress on the point that every South African must be British, but every Briton need not be a South African citizen. This point the Opposition said would mean the disfranchisement of a number of British subjects. Dr. Malan challenged the Opposition to name a single free and independent nation which had not its own national flag. The members of the Opposition retorted with cries of “What about Australia, New Zealand and Canada?” Dr. Malan replied that what was possible in Australia and New Zealand was not necessarily possible in South Africa. They had had in South Africa an altogether different history. In most of the other Dominions the nion Jack, he said, stood for constitutional development. In South Africa, the Union Jack stood for conquest. If the Union Jack had been included in the Irish flag, the disunion with Britain would have continued. In conclusion, the Minister said; “I cannot forget that our independent status could not have been accomplished without the full approval of British statesmen. When the Union Jack flies on certain days to denote our link with the British Commonwealth, it will fly with the consent of the Dutch and the British peoples.” Sir Thomas Smart, who led the Opposition, roused the House by declaring that every argument against the retention of the Union Jack could at some future time be used against the retention of the English language. Sir Thomas said he pledged the loyalty of the English peoples to a flag which combined the Union Jack with the old Republican flags.

The Dutch and the English, who had established an imperishable record in the Great War under the Union Jack, were now entitled to live under it.

The speaker appealed to the Prime Minister, General Hertzog, to put the good of his country before party considerations.

Mr. Hay, Labour member for Pretoria, denounced the proposed flagreferendum as “loaded dice.”—A. and N.Z.