LANDSLIDE RESULT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1943, Page 3

LANDSLIDE RESULT

SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTION SMUTS GOVERNMENT GIVEN BIG MAJORITY. OVERWHELMING ENDORSEMENT OF POLICY. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) PRETORIA, July 21. The, South African election resulted in a landslide in favour of the Coalition Government led by General Smuts. The final returns give the Government 107 seats, and the Nationalists, who oppose participation in the war, 43. This result gives General Smuts a majority three times as great as he had when Parliament was dissolved. Dr. D. F. Malan, leader of the Afrikander Party, has been defeated. Afrikander Party candidates have all so far lost their deposits. While all other members of the Cabinet were re-elected with substantially increased majorities, General Smuts’s own majority fell by 67G to 992. Commenting on the election, General Smuts said the results clearly indicated endorsement by an overwhelming majority of the Government’s policy. •’The Government is determined to carry the war to its ultimate end, maintaining a full effort,” he said.

General Smuts interpreted the voting to mean that the people were determined to carry on regardless of hardship and sacrifice. He added that the stage had been reached when more would be demanded of the people. The Government would not shirk its obligations. which would almost certainly mean stricter control, a better distribution of resources and the curtailment of privileges.