DEFEAT OF SMUTS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1924, Page 5

DEFEAT OF SMUTS

SURPRISE AND REGRET SMALL HOPE OP GOVERNMENT . , MAJORITY. (Received 19th June, noon.) CAPETOWN, 18th June. General Snmts's defeat came as a great surprise, ajid is undoubtedly a severe blow to the party. General regret is expressed that a statesman of his standing has been rejected by his own constituency. It is not known at present whether he will seek another seat. His decision on this point will , probably depend on the final issue of the election. The landslide to Labour on the Rand was greater than was expected, and has prejudiced the Government's chances of a majority. On the other hand, in the urban constituencies of the Cape and Natal, the South African J-arty has more than held its own,-- and has ga.med two seats from Labour in the L?E fc Tlle Labour Party now stands with 18 members, an increase of 5 compared with the last Parliament; and it cannot gain any more seats. The issue Jiangs on the country returns from Transvaal and the Cape, where the Government has a good hope of gaining some beats. £!ut as the Pact is now leading, U.cre appears to -bo small hope of a Government majority. At the same time, it is iinhkely that the Pact can obtain <i workable Two Ministers have been returned— ■ id AhP"; ister of "to Interior, and Mr. Rcil-z, Minister of Lauds