SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS

LABOUR AND SECESSIONISTS. "Just as a wave of physical disease—(he influenza—swept/ over South Africa last year, so recently a wave of mental disease passed through ilhe country, finding expression in rampant disloyalty.” ’Phis view was expressed by Mr. Joseph Baynes, C.M.G., chairman and managing director of Joseph Baynes(- Limited, of South Africa, in discussing the political situation in the Union, says the Melbourne “Argus.” Mr. Baynes has a thorough knowledge of 'South Afrcan politics. He was Minister of Lands and TT’orks in the Government! of Natal in 1993-04.

Referring to the political crisis through which South Africa passed recently, Mr. Baynes said that the Prime Minister (General Smuts), who had led the South African Party to victory, was ' regarded as the only man who could have handled the crisis and saved the country from the catastrophe that might have befallen it under the leadership of a less loyal and far-seeing statesman. By the determined and adroit manner in which General Smuts had welded his party together and saved the country from the secessionists, he had established his right to rank among the foremost statesmen of the world. “When General Smuts derided to go to the country for an '■-xpression of opinion on the question of secession,” ■-aid Mr. Baynes, “the position was indent serious. In the last session of Parliament before the elections, the Labour Party had voted with the Nationalists (secessionists) on several important issues, and as tho Ministry had ft majority of only one over both pnriies its position was intolerable, and General Smuts, realising the gravity of the situation, boldly decided on an appeal to lire people. The Labour Party, in explanation of its conduct in Parliament, said that it had never voted against the Ministry on any vital issue, but General Smuts pointed ouil that if tho Ministry was deposed and a Ministry formed by the Nationalists, its policy of' secession would soon be given effect to, and disastrous results would follow. Acting on the principle that n man on a horse with Hie reins in his hands could not be trusted. General Smuts consolidated liis forces and appealed to the country. "It was a memorable and historic fight, in which the anti-British forces under the leadership of Mr. Hertzog were routed. Feeling ran high in South Africa. Tho secessionists had large numbers of supporters all over the country, and were a force to be reckoned with. Their numbers were growing daily, and for a time it looked ns if they might succeed at the polls. However, General, Smuts’* party, comprised of Unionists (BritlS? and the South African Party, which comprises both British and Dutch gained a majority sufficient to enable it to carry on the government of the country along progressive and practical lines for the next five years.’ Had the secessionists succeeded in rhe elections an attempt would probably have been made to enforce the policy of separation from Great Britain, and the have been plunged into civil war." Questioned regarding the attitude of tfe Lanbiir Party on the question of secession, Air. Baynes said tJiat the general impression which prevailed in South Africa at the time o? the election was (hat while ’.lh® heart of the. average working man heat true to British ideals, certain members of (he Labour Party were coquetting with the Nationalists, ami the party was not to be trusted. While the election campaign was in progress the general secretary of one of the large railway unions in Routh Africa issued a. manifesto urging electors to support Nationalist candidates in constituencies not contested by Labour representative*. Such action on the part of a lending union official gave rise to the'belief that, if strong enough after the election, ilhe Lalionr Party might form ft coalition with (he recossionists. Such a thought was intolerable to th’e majority of (he members of the Tolrinr Partv. and the result of the election showed the common, sense of the work-ini'-mnn on big issues. Half the seat held by the Labour Party in the last Parliiiiiient wore lost to Hie South African Party, i.b.e leader (Colonel Cresswrll> among tho defeated eandidates. If was to the ready response of the working man to firn rallying call of General Smut-- in an hour of supreme crisis that the Ministry owed its ma- _ “After nil." concluded Mr. Baynes, “the consideration that counted most in the election was llie fnet that the people of South Africa could pot possibly obtain better conditions than those under which thev are now living. The cause Of the unrest which has manifested itself in South Africa in recent yearn is ( i lie fo the ambition of a few reactionaries like Mr. Hertzog ,and to jealousy of the vast world progress made by Great Britain.”