SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 120, 14 February 1921, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS

REPUBLICAN CRY SMOTHERED WORKING MEN SUPPORT GENERAL SMUTS By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. (Rec. February 13, 11.5 p.m.) Cape Town, February 12. Tho South African Party has gained Darkly, giving General Smuts a majority of 22 over all parties, irrespective of the result of ties and not including Independents. Only one result is now outstanding. At present the state of parties is: South African 78 Labour p Nationalists 43 independent 1 The South African Party gained 19 seats, Labour 3, and the Nationalists 7. How fondly tlie republican cry was smothered is seen by the following comparison : — South NationAfricans. alists. Cape Province 36 , 13 Transvaal 28 12 Natal 14 1 Only the Free State showed a majority for secession and returned 16 Nationalists and 1 Labourite. In the whole Union 62 per cent, of the electors voted against secession. A feature of tho elections has been tho great number of working men who supported General Smuts’s policy of a non-racial South Africa under t c Union Constitution. The railwaymen s votes undoubtedly helped to give General Smuts his majority.—Reuter. Though certain, of a majority ot 23 to •’ll over all parties, General Smuts deeply regrets the loss of the Minister of Justice, Air. de Wet, who refused the offer ot a safe seat, and has announced his intention of resuming his lawyer’s practice. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

STRIKE POSITION ON RAND INTIMIDATION BA' DIRECT ACTIONISTS. (Rec. February 13, 11.5 p.m.) Cape, Town, February 12. The strike position on the Rand is most confused. While the General Executive of the Miners’ Union and the leaders of the Labour Federation disapproves of the Langlaagte trouble as a breach of the agreement with the Chamber of Mines, the extremists have forced iho General Executive of the Mirers Union into taking a ballot, which is now proceeding, for or against a general strike in support of the Langlaate men. ' " tb f meantime a meeting ot the executive® OI unions affiliated to the Labour Federation resolved, in view of the serious position of the mining industry, that the terms offered bv the Chamber of Mmes m reply to Um miners’ demands bo accepted. ■ Direct actionists are intimidating the Valid miners and the outlook is growing uglier.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.