AFRICAN ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1929, Page 5

AFRICAN ELECTIONS

HERTZOG PARTY

HAS SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY

SOUTH AFRICAN PARTY DEFEATED.

(United Press Association—By Elect re. Telegraph—Copyright)

CAPETOWN, June 11

The overnight results of the General Election leave fourteen seats to he announced. of which the South African Party probably will get two. The present state c.’f parties is as follows: Nationalists ... ... ... (>(> South African Party , ... 55) Labour >. ... 8

General Hertzog. although lie is assured of a clear majority, will probably propose a coalition with the five Cresswellites (Labourites), wliicli 'Colonel Crcssewll, with In’s wrecked party, is not likely to accept. General ilertzog is expected to dissolve the Senate, as even the reconstituted Chamber will not give the requisite two-thirds majority to carry his native, legislation. Hacked with his .Ministers, General Hcrtzog stampeded the Northern Provinces into believing that the white civilisation in-South Africa was endangered. while Labour’s support has enabled him to retain a Sew of the constituencies which were expected to bo supporters of the .South Airican Party. The Cape •‘Times” characterises the rejection of General Smuts’ party as ■‘a national calamity at which the world stares in surprise.” (Received this day at 8.30. a.m.) CAPIvTOWX, June It. Four returns including a gain at (V)losburg Cane bring the .Nationalist total to 70. leaving the South African party o') and Labour 8. Ten results are awaited including Tembul and East Grionalami. where there is a large native vote. Hoth are • •ertsiint ies for the South Airican Party. 'lnis means the tinal result will probaby be :- Nationalists 78 Smith African Partly . 01 I in hour 8 Nationalists last election. South Africans 0.000 and Labour 10.t/J0 fewer. The election shows the old racial divisions are rampant in the rural areas.

There are NS parliamentary constituencies. each returning one member. The last, general election took place in .lime. 1924. when the newly-formed Nationalist-Labour pact was returned to power with a majority of 28 vote' in a House rl& 135 members. I lie result of the election on the votes, however. was virtually a stalinate, but. small majorities in the constituencies prod need a very dillerent result in Parliament. The Nationalist members returned were ( : 3. and Labour IS, making 81 members ol the pact. 1 lie •South African Party, led by General Smuts, numbers 53; there was one Independent. and, accordingly, the pact had a majority of 28. Since then the Labour Party split, in two. One half oT them follow their leader, Colonel Cresswell, the other lmlf.'led by Mr Made ley, and giving allegiance to what they call the ” National Council.” are now an independent political body, as Labour was formally, with no alliance with either Government or Opposition.