BATTLE OF THE FLAG

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 77, 22 June 1927, Page 1

BATTLE OF THE FLAG

SOUTH AFRICAN DISPUTE THAT UNION JACK “INSULT TO THE DUTCH” T)y Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright CAPETOWN, Monday. HHHE proposal of General Smuts to have the Union Jack and the old Republican flags an integral part of the national flag is an insult to the historical feelings of the Dutch South Africans. *|l am determined to proceed with the bill at all costs. General Hertzog, Prime Minister, made that utterance in the House of Assembly to-day, when the Parliamentary battle over the South African national flag problem was renewed. The Leader of the Opposition, General Smuts, proposed that an impartial tribunal should consider the matter. He said the temper of the country would become worse if the bill were rushed through. Cienerai .nertzog, said delay would make matters worse. For years the Dutch people in South Africa had had no flag. He would never allow the Union Jack to have a dominant position in the national flag. If the “Sons of England” were still opposed to a national flag they would have to knuckle under and let the Bill pass. General Smuts said he deplored the speech of the Prime Minister. It was no use talking of sovereign independence when they were embarking on a policy which would shatter unity. The Government claimed that the new design with the Union Jack embodied in a shield with the R e p u b I ican flags in the centre of the old Holland flag—satisfied moderate English opinion. Members of the Opposition, however, held that a telescope would be needed to see the Union Jack. —A. and N.Z.