THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3101, 26 January 1909, Page 4

THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

Not the least difficult of the problems connected with South African union is the selection of the future Federal capital, which the meeting of the National Convention has again brought to the front. Throughout the country generally, and especially among the inhabitants of the various rival centres, the question seems to be exciting quite as much interest as the larger issues involved. At the moment the struggle lies between Capetown nnd Bloemfontein, and Pretoria. Each is making strenuous efforts to make good its claim, and to influence neutral opinion injits favour. Bloemfontein has cleverly stolen a march on its competitors by publishing a lavishly-illustrated pamphlet setting forth in great detail its manifold attractions, a copy of which' publication, wet from the press, was despatched post haste to each member of the Convention at Durban. The cnief merit ot the Orange River Colony's capital is its geographical position. It is the most central of the competiong towns, and its proximty to Natal is gaining it a good deal ot not altogether disinterested support in that colony. It is believed that the bugbear of Delagoa Bay is likely to tell against the election of Pretoria, although influential people in the Transvaal, from the Prime Minister downwards, are losing no opportunity of trumpeting abroad its advantages. Capetown is seriously handicapped by reason ofjjits situation at the extremity of the sub-Continent. On practically all other grounds, it is urged, its claim to priority is undoubted. It is the parent city of South Africa, the cradle of both Dutch and British colonisation. Whatever the outcome, there can be no doubt that the struggle will be keen.