FUTURE UNCERTAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 79, 13 January 1949, Page 3

FUTURE UNCERTAIN

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT (From Reuter’s Correspondent). (By Air Mail). PRETORIA. South Africa is looking to the forthcoming session of Parliament, which begins on January 21, and the provincial elections which take place on March 3, to clarify the political scene. The provincial elections hold the- key to the situation. Prime Minister Malan has made them a vote of confidence in his party’s colour policy. The question being asked is whether he will go to the country for a fresh mandate if the elections go against him, or whether, if there is a swing in favour of the Government, lie will go to the country to secure a larger Parliamentary majority to carry out the Apartheid Policy which, he will argue, has been endorsed by the people in the provincial elections.

Another important aspect of the prbvincial elections is the test that they Avill afford of the strength of the Nationalist Party in a straight fight without the-support of the Afrikaner Party and the pro-Fascist Ossewarbrandwag against General Smuts’s United Party and the Labour Party. The Afrikaner Party’s decision not to take part in the provincial elections, folloAVing the Nationalist Party’s refusal to support the Afrikaner Party candidates Avho are members of the OsseAvabrandwag, does not affect the co-operation betAveen Malan and Havenga. This will continue for the life of the present Parliament in the terms of the original agreement made betAveen Malan and Havenga at the time of the general election.

There is no indication of Avhat majority in the provincial elections Havenga will accept as proof that the Government is backed by the will of the people. The readiness Avith which Malan held out the elections as a deciding factor is regarded here as a sign of the confidence with which he faces the verdict of the electorate. There is little likelihood of a crisis developing in the Cabinet Avhen it meets in Cape Toavii on January 12 to decide on the Government’s legislative programme for the neAv session.

It seems certain that the proposed legislation abolishing the representation of natives in the House of Assembly Avill figure in the speech from the Throne. Whether the Government Avill proceed Avith it must depend on the outcome of the provincial elections. For the rest, the Government’s legislative programme, if ft survives the session, Avill consist of other measures for Avhicli it believes it has the backing of the people, such as a Bill to give South West Africa representation in the Union Parliament, a Bill providing for national registration, and a Bill to prohibit mixed marriages betAveen white and non-white.