LOUIS BOTHA.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1919, Page 4

LOUIS BOTHA.

A GREAT PATRIOT AND A QißMf

I TRIBUTES TQ (HIS MEMOBY.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Lait Night. In the House of Representatives this evening Mr. Massey moved: "That tUa House desires to give expression to ttof deep regret of Parliament and thsjeophi of Sew Zealand caused by the death of' General Louis Botha, Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, and to record its admiration of his manly and honor* able career as a gallant enemy of formic years and as a statesman of the since the Transvaal peace." He said it was with sincere and deep" regret that he received the news of ths death of General Botha. Being' With him in Paris he learned to rogardnim *» one of the most remarkable men he tad ever met. The Premier proceeded to trace the career of the deceased (tat*man through the 'Boer war until he cafes to lead the Boer republic out of the wilderness when peace was made. S» death meant that "a prince In Isfatl had fallen," and those who had the prifilege of knowing him felt that not Oftly had a great statesman passed away, but that they had lost a true and vital friend.

Sir Joseph Ward said he had known General Botha before he became Premier of South Africa, and had always beta greatly impressed by his reanv fine qualities. Not only was General 'Botha loyM" to his own country as a soldier, \m when circumstances changed and tie whole of South Africa came under British rule he proved just as loval to his new country. None could have" toot General Botha.without feeling what a big man he was, what a generous nan he was, and how true a man he Was. He lived a hard,life, and as a reiult of that experience had become a courageous soldier and broad-minded statesman, who had added lustre to his own nation and lustre to the British Empire. He seconded the Premier's motion. Sir John Findlay, who attended the Imperial Conference in 1911 with General Botha, in supporting the motion, paid an eloquent tribute to flenejej Botha's truthfulness and loyalty, deatrtbing him as a master mind and the guiding hand which brought about the U&Up of South Africa, the greatest federa* tion in the British Empire. The motion was carried in silence. ,