Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit MONDAY, MAY 23, 1938. SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 188, 23 May 1938, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit MONDAY, MAY 23, 1938. SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS.

If, as "The Cape Times” says, the recent elections in South Africa have given a severe check to the racial doctrine of the Nationalists, the result will be of immense service in advancing the prosperity of the Union. The South African State has great natural potentialities which need only wise government to develop to an extent not dreamt of a few years ago. But there are several vital problems that await solution, greatest of which is the fact that native and other coloured races are rapidly increasing in numerical strength, demanding more space to live and develop, knocking more insistently at the door of many occupations previously regarded as the close preserve of the white South African. This is the basis of all the difficulties over the native franchise, education, land tenure and other issues which have long been before Parliament. Then there is the question of defence and that of South-west Africa, where the German population is a source of trouble. In the early days of the Union racial distinctions between Bri-tish-born and Boer led to party alignments that did not make for development of the country to the extent that its resources warranted. However, in 1933, the United Party, formed by the fusion of the Nationalist Party, under General Hertzog, and the South African Party, under General Smuts, was returned to_office in the General liltction of that ybar by an overwhelming majority of 138 members out ol z House of 150. Since then the paity position has been altered by the hiving off” of a small section of the United Party on old Nationalist iines, led by Dr. Malan to constitute the Republican Party, while the Dominion Party, at the other extreme, has come into being under Colonel Stallard. Throughout the political history of South Africa a demand for independence has been a fundamental cause of party cleavage. New alignments have constantly taken place on the issues of the country s relationship to Great Britain. It was the issue, above all others, that drew those * former antagonists, General Hertzog and General Smuts, into the Coalition which developed into fusion of the Government parties. In his opening speech of the campaign just ended, the Prime Minister (General Hertzog) justifiably claimed that great benefits have followed the fusion. When that movement took place there was no practical alternative, and it abolished the main line of division that had existed for many years. The administration led by General Hertzog has had the great advantage of having been a prosperity Government. A soaring world price for gold has made the country strong financially, and it has been possible to pass on to those who did not directly share the benefits of the gold boom some of the bounty from it. Thus, though some seats have been lost, as special circumstances indicated quite early in the campaign, the Government has been again returned with an overwhelming majority.