SPLIT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 503, 5 November 1928, Page 15

SPLIT IN SOUTH AFRICA

NATIONALIST-LABOUR PACT TOTTERING MINISTER ASKED TO RESIGN (United F.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.X. Press AssocictionJ CAPETOWN, Saturday. The Nationalist Labour pact is tottering to disruption. It was reported yesterday that the Prime Minister, General Hertzog, had invited Mr. W. B. Madeley to resign the portfolio of Minister of Posts owing to his recognition of the Native Workers’ Union as the mouthpiece of the natives employed by the Postal Department. The Government's Dutch newspaper says Mr. Madeley has adopted an extreme attitude with socialistic leanings. This the Government cannot tolerate. The Native Union, which imported a Scotsman as organiser, is described a 3 a breeding-place of political agitation. Mr. Madeley denies that he has resigned and this is interpreted as meaning that he is forcing a similar position to that of 1912, when General Botha dissolved and reconstructed his Cabinet and left General Hertzog out. Mr. Madeley is now a bitter opponent of Colonel F. H. P. Creswell, Minister of Labour, and all attempts to reconcile the two Labour factions have failed. “GOVERNMENT MUST DISSOLVE” Speaking at Bloemfontein on Thursday evening, Mr. Barlow said: "I am going to break the pact. I will embarrass the Government next session as never, before. The Government must dissolve in July.” It was contemplated that a short, final session should be held to deal with the estimates and a native land bill, and it is now doubtful if the pact will hold together. The Primg Minister admits that he requested Mr. Madeley not to see delegates from the Native Union about postal natives’ wages until the Cabinet had discussed the matter, as the Minister of Agriculture, General J. C. J._ Kemp, had refused to recognise the union. Notwithstanding this Mr. Madeley did receive the delegates, accompanied by the secretary of the Trades Union Congress. General Hertzog then wrote saying he had lost confidence in Mr. Madeley as a colleague and that he refused to co-operate with him further. Mr. Madeley has neferred his position to the National Labour Council which is anxious to postpone its deliberation of the matter for a week. Colonel Cresftvell’s section of Labour will continue to support General Hertzog, but the council members dominate the situation.