POLITICAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 35, 5 November 1928, Page 11

POLITICAL CRISIS

SPLIT IN SOUTH AFRICA NATIONALIST-LABOUR PACT TOTTERING (Australian Press Association.) Cape Town, November 2. The Nationalist-Labour pact is tottering to disruption. It is reported that the Premier, General Hertzog, to-day invited Mr. W. B. Madeley to resign his.portfolio of Minister of Posts owing to his recognising the Native Workers’ Union as the mouthpiece of natives employed in the Postal Department. The Government Dutch organ states that. Mr. Madeley adopted an extreme attitude with Socialistic leanings, which the Government cannot tolerate. The Native Union, which imported a Scotsman as organiser, is decrlbed as the breeding place for political agitation. Mr. Madeley denies that he has resigned. This is interpreted as meaning that he is forcing a similar position to that of 1912, when General Botha dissolved and reconstructed the Cabinet, leaving General Hertzog out. Mr. Madeley is now a bitter opponent of Colonel Creswell, the Labour leader. All attempts to reconcile the Labour factions have failed. Mr. Barlow, speaking at Bloemfontein last night, said: “I am going to break the pact. I will embarrass the Government next session as never before.” The Government must dissolve in July, and contemplated a short final session to deal with the Estimates and the Native Land Bill. It is now doubtful whether it will hold together.

STATEMENT BY GENERAL HERTZOG

REQUEST DISREGARDED

(Australian Press Association.) (Rec. November 4, 5.5 p.m.)

Cape Town, November 3.

General Hertzog admits that -he requested Mr. Madeley not to see the delegates of the Natives’ Union regarding postal natives’ wages until Cabinet had discussed the matter, as the Minister of Agriculture had refused to recognise the union. Notwithstanding this, Mr. Madeley had received the delegates, accompanied by the secretary of the Trade Union Congress. General Hertzog wrote that he had lost confidence in him as a colleague, and refused to co-operate with him further. Mr. Madeley has not resigned, but had referred his position to the Labour National Council,' which is anxious to postpone deliberation for a week. Colonel Creswell and a section of the Labourites will continue to support General Hertzog, but the council members dominate the situation.