Page 60 - Bulletin 8 2004

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With regard to the Cape Peninsula, he saw no reason in the world why it should not be a
second Riviera, and why Sough Africa should not be the sanatorium of Europe. (Hear,
hear).
Major Du Boulay briefly returned thanks for the Army.
Mr. John Black proposed “The Cape Parliament”. He said that the opening of a
short section of line like that would not be looked upon as important in England, but in
South Africa it was very different, and represented something long hoped for and
expected. It was thirty years since the line between Cape Town and Wellington was laid
down, and the progress of railways which had since taken place in the Colony had been
regarded nowhere with greater interest than in Simon’s Town. That day was a day of
rejoicing for all in the district, and they could not but feel grateful to the Parliamentary
representatives who, in season and out of season, had advocated the construction of the
line. Their representatives saw the necessity of connecting probably the most important
coaling station in the Southern Hemisphere with Cape Town, which he hoped some day
would be the metropolis of Greater Britain. Simon’s Town was not an ungrateful place,
and whenever their representatives sought re-election at the hands of their constituents
he believed the answer would be satisfactory to both sides. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Innes, responding, said he thought that at any rate the Cape Parliament was
admirably representative of the people. There was no doubt about that. Judged upon its
merits, it had not done badly in recent times. There had been several occasions upon
which the Parliament of the Cape Colony had been, so to speak, put on its trial, and they
found that on those occasions its members had dismissed for the time being the village
pump, and rightly, as he thought, they had on one such occasion rejected a railway
scheme which, though advantageous to localities, would be ruinous to the Colony at
large. That was one occasion when the Parliament vindicated its right to be regarded as
a good representative body of the Cape people, but, more than that, it had shown that it
could take a wide view of its responsibilities. They were that day celebrating the
opening of a line which was an admirable force in the opening up of the Cape
Peninsula, but at the same time was being opened the railway to Vryburg, by means of
which it was hoped to obtain rich and valuable lands as heritage for the people of this
country. He was proud to represent the Cape Division, because he believed it was full of
public spirit as between the village pump and the Empire. He was all on the side of the
Empire. He admitted the usefulness of the village pump, but when they came to look at
things from a broad standpoint the village pump was nowhere with the Empire. Those
who, like himself, were born in this land, and took a patriotic interest in the country,
were all on the side of the empire, and it was because the Cape Division allowed its
representative a free hand that he was so proud to represent it. The hon. gentleman, after
giving a high tribute of praise to Mr. C. J. Manuel for his long and earnest advocacy of
the line, said that the question had been mooted of a removal of the naval station to
Cape Town, but he thought the railway settled that point for ever.
Dr. Smuts also briefly responded, and said that he believed the line would be a
good paying concern.
The Hon. G. P. Moodie, M.L.C., was called upon, and in a short speech referred
to the advantage the district would gain by the opening of the line.
Mr. Ohlsson, M.L.A., said that the country in the beautiful Miller’s Point district
was one of the most beautiful he had seen, and if the line were extended he believed it
would be found a paying venture. (Hear, hear.)