NEWS OF THE WEEK
WE regret to say that there is a serious danger of the scheme for the union of South Africa being rejected by the Referendum in Natal. We trust that the people of Natal will reflect deeply before taking a step which, we believe, would be very much to their injury. There is no alternative for them between having union or no union in South Africa. If there were such an alternative, Natal might be acting logically in preventing the realisation of the scheme. But the other Colonies intend to enter into a Union in any case, with or without Natal, and there is no doubt that the Imperial Parlia- ment would sanction an Act in this form. The isolation of Western Australia did not prevent the Commonwealth of Australia from coming into existence. If Natal stands outside the Union, she will have established no rights of membership, and the other Colonies, or Provinces as they will be called, can hardly be expected to be so considerate as they might other- wise have been. They will have it in their power to" squeeze " Natal by arrangements as to railways and other services in which she will have no voice.
