SOUTH AFRICAN UNION

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20500, 17 May 1938, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION

The people of the South African Union to-morrow will elect a new Parliament, and, according to the cable reports, the Government is expected to be returned with a substantial majority. In the previous House of Assembly it commanded 138 votes out of a total membership of 150, so that it could afford to lose many seats and still have a working majority. The strength of the Government lies in the harmonious relations that exist between the Prime Minister, General Hertzog, and the leader of the former South African Party, General Smuts. Ever since the coalition, to meet the problems of the depression, the United Party has controlled the Union. Unlike most countries, South Africa has not experienced any great difficulty in matters of finance, the immense output of gold being of material assistance, but drought has taken a heavy toll of agricultural and pastoral production, and plans for water conservation have been pushed ahead vigorously. The Republican group, led by Dr. Malan, has put forward sufficient candidates to secure a majority, and it is said that the campaign has resulted in the re-kindling of some of the old racial bitterness. This, strangely enough, is reported to be marked among some of the Cape Dutch, and they obtain support from the Boers of the back-veldt. The Dominion Party is concerned mostly with Natal where British settlers predominate and the Labour candidates hope to obtain support in the populous mining centres. The Government has expressed its satisfaction with the status outlined in the Statute of Westminster and will continue its policy of friendship with the Mother Country and the other self-governing units of the Empire. There is said to be only one issue between South Africa and Great Britain that may prove difficult and that is the control of the two native protectorates, Basutoland and Swaziland, and negotiations with respect to them have been in hand for some time. It will be interesting to see the results of the election. The Union has had political stability during the depression, due to the statesmanlike actions of the two leaders of the United Party in sinking their differences and concentrating their efforts on the immediate problems. Five years ago the country returned them to office with an overwhelming majority and the coming election will provide a test of the value which the South Africans place on stability and unity in the governance of the country.