The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1921. CONFIDENCE IN GENERAL SMUTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1921. CONFIDENCE IN GENERAL SMUTS.

The result of the general elections in South Africa should be hailed with much satisfaction throughout the Empire, inasmuch as it is not only a striking vote of confidence in General Smuts (the Premier), but is eloquent testimony of the waning influence of the Dutch element and the Labor Party, as well as of the strengthening of the ties between the Union and the Empire. It may fairly be assumed that the verdict of the people in favor of the Government is in large measure due to the outstanding personality of General Smuts, and the more general recognition that the best interests of the country will be promoted far more by its reliance on good government than by being rent asunder through the intrigues of the irreconcilable Dutch and the disruptive tactics of Labor. A comparison between the votes recorded at the recent election with those east at the previous poll furnishes material for considerable gratification by all who have the welfare of the component parts of. the Empire at heart. At the time of writing, there were still ten seats unaccounted for, but the position in the main is as follows:

It will be seen that the South African Party and the Unionists (Imperialists), who co-operated politically during the war, now appear as a solid party numbering seventy-two, as against a joint sixty-five at the preceding election; that the Nationalists (the Dutch) have lost three seats at least, while Labor has lost twelve, and the Independents have dwindled down to a solitary supporter. The main issue at the previous election was: Independence within the Empire, or a Republic independent, of the Empire, and the struggle was intensely keen, the result being that while the Dutch gained several seats, the Unionists lost seats to Labor in the towns, and as a consequence the Laborites held the balance of power. Thai undesirable factor has now been eliminated from South African polities, as the Imperialists have now such a clear working majority that, in the words of the Capetown cerresfpude&t of

London Times: “A great peril has passed, and stable Government assured for- some years.” Coming at a time when extreme Labor is voicing extravagant demands in ail parts of the world, the verdict of the electors of South Africa is particularly welcome, the more so as it puts an end to a position there which was not conducive to progress on sound lines. The lesson is one that was much needed, but the real cause for congratulation over the result of these elections is the vote of confidence in, the Government so ably led by General Smuts, who during the short time he has held the Premiership (since September, 1919) has displayed consummate statesmanship, and given convincing proof of the same high qualities which won for him outstanding merit as a soldier and a patriot are being worthily devoted in the political arena to the advancement Of his country’s best interests, as well as adding to the prestige of. the Empire. It is only a question of time when the remaining hostility of the Dutch element will die out and the people of the Union become Anglicised. Meanwhile it is men like Botha and Smuts whose example counts for much in the cause of good government, peace, progress and prosperity.

Last election. Present. S. African Party 40 72 Unionists *25 40 Nationalists 43 40 Labor ■ •21 9 Independent 3 1