Crucial Polls In Salisbury

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 13

Crucial Polls In Salisbury

(N.Z JP. A .-Reuter—Copy rig ht)

SALISBURY, October 1.

Polling begins today in two crucial Salisbury by-elections in which Mr lan Smith’s Government is seeking support for its policies on independence for Southern Rhodesia.

The main interest is in the Arundel constituency, where Sir Roy Welensky, the former Prime Minister of the now defunct Central African Federation, is opposing Mr Clifford Dupont, Southern Rhodesia’s Deputy-Prime Minister. Speaking in support of Mr Dupont at a meeting last night, Mr Smith said any concession to black nationalism would mean a lowering of standards and that “Southern Rhodesia would no longer be a country worth living in.” He added: “We are absolutely satisfied that independence is the complete answer for the future of our country —it is the only answer.” During the campaign Mr Dupont said that he would regard the result of the election as a vote of confidence

for or against the Government. Mr Dupont, who resigned a “safe” Rhodesian Front seat to fight Sir Roy Welensky, said he would not stand again for the seat if. he was defeated in today’s by-election. Sir Roy Welensky, who is leader outside Parliament of the opposition Rhodesia Party will, if he wins today, become the Parliamentary opposition leader, replacing Sir Edgar Whitehead.