7 io SOUTH AFRICA 



The session of 1911-12 revealed acute differences in the cabinet and in the ministerial 

 ranks. Mr. J. X. Merriman, ex-Cape Premier, the most accomplished parliamentarian 

 and ablest financier in the House of Assembly, was a very candid friend of the ministry, 

 as when in June 1912 he denounced their financial proposals as predatory and extrava- 

 gant. The ministry itself was divided on personal and provincial and also progressive 

 and retrogressive lines. Chief among Botha's colleagues were Mr. H. C. Hull and Mr. 

 Jacobus Wilhelmus Sauer. Mr. Hull (b. 1860) after being in the Cape civil service had 

 practised at the bar, served in the war of 1899-1902 and was afterwards treasurer of the 

 Transvaal and he entered the Union cabinet as minister of finance. Mr. Sauer (b. 1850) 

 had been 30 years a member of the Cape House of Assembly and had frequently held 

 office. On the establishment of the Union he became Minister of Railways and Har- 

 bours and Chairman of the Railways and Harbours Board created by the Union Act, 

 the largest revenue producing department of state. Mr. Sauer became head of one 

 section of the cabinet; General Botha or rather Mr. Hull head of another. As early as 

 July 1911 cabinet dissensions occurred, but there was no open breach until May 18, 

 1912, when Mr. Hull resigned. The ministerial differences were aired in two set de- 

 bates in the House of Assembly. Mr. Hull alleged that railway expenditure was not 

 previously sanctioned by the Treasury and that there had been a tendency to regard 

 railway administration as something for which the government had no collective respon- 

 sibility. General Botha (May 22d) admitted that the cabinet had not been sufficiently 

 considered in railway matters. 



As a result of this episode within the ministry itself General Botha's authority 

 was weakened. The reconstruction of the cabinet was postponed until after the close 

 of the parliamentary session, on June 24th. After two days' negotiations, Mr. Sauer 

 and his friends threatening to resign if their demands were not granted, a compromise 

 was reached. Mr. Henry Burton, K.C., another ex-Cape Colony minister, took over 

 the Railways and Harbours ; General Smuts (Transvaal) was transferred from the 

 Ministry of the Interior to that of Finance; Mr. Sauer became Minister of Agriculture 

 (an office General Botha had held in conjunction with the premiership); Mr. Fischer 

 (Orange Free State) became minister of the Interior, while retaining his portfolio as 

 minister of Lands, while General Hertzog, in addition to his duties as Minister of 

 Justice, undertook those concerning Native Affairs, which Mr. Burton had previously 

 administered. The cabinet whose other members were Col. Leuchars, Mr. F. S. Malan 

 (Cape) and Sir David de Villiers Graaff (Cape) was thus reduced to nine members, 

 4 of them being representatives from the Cape, 2 from the Transvaal, 2 from the 

 Orange Free State and one from Natal. 



The question of defence came prominently before the country in connection with the 

 Imperial conference held in London in 1911, which General Botha attended as represent- 

 ing the Union. It was decided that South Africa should provide for its own internal 

 defence, and a Defence Act was passed in the Union parliament in June 1912, creating 

 a citizen force at a cost of about 500,000 a year; this is in addition to a permanent force 

 of five regiments. The act provided for the military training of 50% of the young men 

 between 18 and 21 ; the other 50% being compelled to join rifle clubs and similar associa- 

 tions. The 50% for training are obtained in the first place by voluntary enlistment, 

 but if sufficient numbers are not forthcoming by this method, then by ballot. Mem- 

 bers of the Citizen Force with the colours are paid. Provision was made for artillery, 

 cavalry, infantry, engineer and transport units, uniformity with the units of the other 

 over-sea Dominions being aimed at. General C. F. Beyers, one of the Transvaal 

 commandants in the Anglo-Boer War was appointed Commandant General, while the 

 Council of Defence created by the act consisted of General Schalk Burger (Transvaal), 

 Col. Crewe (Cape), General de Wet (Orange Free State), and Col. Sir Duncan Mackenzie 

 (Natal). 



Objections to the act came chiefly from the " back-veld " Boers who entertained 

 strong dislike to compulsory service. The force being established, the reduction of the 

 strength of the British Imperial forces in South Africa from 11,500 to about 7,000 



