THE SOUTH AFRICAN . ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2600, 23 October 1915, Page 5

THE SOUTH AFRICAN . ELECTIONS

GENERAL BOTHA RETURNED UNIONIST MAJORITIES • ' \ By TtileeTapli—Press Association—CouyrlE)" I Gape Towiij October 21. General Smuts (Minister for Defence), Mr. H. W. Sampson (Labour ■ Wliip), Mr. Abe Bailey, and Sir J. P. Fitzpatrick were elected. Mr. F. H. P. Creswell was defeated in two places. Messrs. Poutsnia ancl Rews were defeated. Mr.' H. P. Serfontein (Nationalist), who was imprisoned during the rebel!ian ; was elected for Kroonstnd, defeating the Hon. N. J. Do Wet, Minister for Justice. Mr. J. B. Robinson (Independent) was elected for Randfontein, Sir D. Harris (Independent) for Beaconsfield, and Sir C. P. Crewe (Unionist) for East London. General Botha's nomineo for Potchefsfcroonl'f where the rebellion was hatched, was elected by a three to 0110 majority. ; . A striking feature of the urban centres is the largo Unionist majorities over the Labourites. Pretoria October 21. There was heavy polling throughout the Union. Durban, October 21. Mr. Kentridge (Labourite) defeated Mr. Henwood (Unionist) for, Durban Central. (Rec. October 22, 8.15 p.m.) Cape Town, Octobor 21. General Botha has been elected. BOTHA'S MAJORITY ASSURED, j (Rec. October 22, 11.35 p.m.) Cape Town, October 22. A feature of the elections has been the complete collapse of Labour in the great urban constituencies. The Unionists, made a successful raid on the Cape constituencies, while tlio Nationalists were solidly successful in the Free State. Mr. H. S. Teron (Minister of Lands) and Mr. Henry Burton (Minister of, Railways) were defeated. General Botiila is assured of a majority. UNIONIST PARTY IN SOUTH AFRICA

(From the "Morning Post.") General Botha, the Prime Minister of the South African Union, is certainly the most "romantic and picturesque figuro in the Empire, sand the applause is thoroughly deserved; whether .it strengthens his position in South Africa is another matter. But few people seem to realise tlio invaluable services of Sir Thomas Smartt to the British cause. It is doubtful if any other leading politician has beon called upon to make such sacrificesj both of personal and party advantages, as the leader of the Sontli African Unionists. His distintorested patriotism lias alone made possible the joyal actions, of the Government, and it would be ungracious. not to recognise the debt which we owo to tho polioy .pursued by him in a position of extreme difficulty.

Th Unionist Party is the nearest approach to the Liberal Party in Britain, and those who object to the reactionary tendencies' of the Government must vote either Unionist or' Labourist. It is therefore to the advantage of the Unionists to be. as progressive as their middle-class Supporters desire. They £avo definitely adopted, among otQier reforms, the principle of the taxation of ,unimproved land, wliich is urgently desirable in the interests of closor settlement, but which arouses the Dutch farmers to fierce hostility.' In this and other directions the British middle classes 'in the towns demand a policy which is Radical as compared with that of tho South African Party." If they cannot get such a policy from the Unionists, the endency is for them to support the Labour Party, as they did, owing to Unionist acquiescence in the deportations, at the last elections for the Transvaal Provincial Council. Since that timo the unpopularity of the official Opposition has not diminished. The rank and file are dissatisfied with their leaders because they have practically ceased either to oppose the Conservative measures of the Government or to urge the adoption of their own policy. Ever since General Hertzog left the Government and began liis reckless but successful career of incitement to racial bitterness, tho deliberate aim of Sir Thomas Smartt has been to maintain General Botha in power. The Unionists themselves could never secure a majority, but their other leaders, who are conspicuously cautious men, would have considered primarily the effect of their attitude on the fortunes of the party. Sir Thomas, however, without possessing the intellectual powers of General Smuts or Mr. Duncan, lias the quality of imagination and the capacity of faith in an idea. He is a fervent Imperialist, and he sees beyond the immediate interests of the Imperialist Party to those of th© Empire itself. One can imagine that the same singleminded enthusiasm \ might be given, in less critical times, to.other causes not less worthy of devotion.

In order to avoid embarrassing General Botha, Sir Thomas Sraartt lias honestly eideavonred to restrain the feelings of British South Africans during the last ten months, and tliey have displayed, on the whole, a praiseworthy self-control. There has been, it is true, a lamentable outbreak of anti-German it must bo remembered that the attitude of pro-German sympathisers at Pretoria and elsewhere is deliberately provocative. By acquiescing, in a policy of extreme leniency towards the rebels, responsible Unionists have shown a statesmanlike spirit.- But there is a point beyond which the. feelings' of the Britishers cannot be restrained, and on one question—that of sending home a South Africsn contingent—their political leader is firmly resolved to urge their views upon tlie Government, whatever tho conscquences may be. South Africa must bo represented on the battlefields of Europe. That is the question of the moment for local South •Africans.