The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-11-04
First Parliament Of South African
Union Formally Opened by
the Duke Of Connaught
Today
THOUSANDS CHEER PAGEANT
Duke of Connaught Expresses Regret
That King of England Was Unable
to Attend in Person As He
Had Contemplated.

Capetown, Nov. 4.-The royal stand
ard and the union jack of old Eng
land tugged and tore i'm the brisk wind
from the flagstaffs of the assembly
building this morning, a silent token
of the fact that the day designated
for the assembling of the first par
lament of the South african Union
had arrived. Large crowds began to
assemble i'm the vicinity early in the
forenoon and long before the hour fix
ed for the opening ceremony thous-
ands were massed about the entrances
TO the legislative hall.
The opening ceremonies were con-
Quoted with dignified impressive
ness mixed with a certain amount of
glamor and splendor. The presence of
the Duke of Connaught, representing
his Majesty the King, added much
to the public interest in the occasion.
A pageant in which large number
of troops. civic organizations and dele
cations representing the four compon-
ent states of the union took part, pre-
ceeded the inauguration of the parlia-
ment. The procession made its way
through streets gay with flags and
bunting TO the assembly building. while
women and children manifested their
interest and enthusiasm in Ahe occas-
ion by vociferous cheers.
Enthusiastic Demonstration.
In the legislative chamber the scene
was most impressive when the Duke
of Connaught was escorted To the ros-
trum. His Royal Highness was ac-
companied by the Duchess of Conn
aught and Princess Patricia. The
Dukes uniform of field marshal was
partly concealed by his robes. Group
ed about the royal party were seated
the high officials of the union govern
ment and others who had "A conspic-
uous part in bringing the new COM
monwealth into existence. Among
those whose appearance in the cham
ber called forth enthusiastic demon
strations of greeting were Viscount
Gladstone, the governor general of the
South African Union; General Louis
Botha, the first premier. and General
Christian DE Wet.
Address of Duke Of Connaught.
The address of the Duke of Conn
aught was. of course the most prom
inent feature OF the opei lg cere-
monies. His royal highnes; Iwelt at
considerable length upon t..e impor-
tance of the occasion as a step In the
process of imperial development. In
behalf of the King he expressed the
regret which his Majesty felt over his
inability to be present i'm person, as
he had originally expected. but which
project he had been forced to abon-
don amid the multifarious responsb-
ilities Immediately following on his
accession to the throne. The speech |
OF the Duke of Connaught was made
IN loud. clear tone, amid impress
sive silence. At it's conclusion the
formal ceremony came to an end.
The launching of the South African
Union on its parliamentary life today
Is regarded as In one sense an even
the commonwealth, at which the King
himself presided ten years ago. In a
way IL marks the complete fulflment
OF the process of imperial develop |
ment which began with the Confeder-
alton of Canada in 1857, and was car
RED yet a further step by the Fed
Grafton of Australia In 1900.
Four Provinces in Union.
That the four provinces of Natal, |
cape Colony, the Transvall and the
orange River Colony should. within
,he decade that saw the outbreak of |
the war In South Africa, unite of |
,helr own free motion to form one
state with a single parliament, un-
uer the general supervision of the |
imperial government. is regarded as a
s,lKing example of the essential vigor |
ana soundness of the British political
system.
Inc constitution of the new COM
n'ohWealth provides for more than |
uhion-for substantial unification. The |
government is to be strongly central
Heu' following the Canadian rather
.nah the American or Australian plan. |
s,acucally all the interests and af- |
.srs OF the provinces are placed in
' nands OF the central parliament.
purely local and administrative
BUSINESS of each province only being
NJ