The Star. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1921. SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 18 February 1921, Page 4

The Star.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1921. SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS.

Delivered every evewsg by 6 o'clook in H&wera, Jlautia, fforznanby, Okaiawa, Eltbain, Mang.itokl, Kapongs, A.w«tua», Opunake Utakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurley vUle. <:*._„, Waverley. 1 ' ■— . , '

I : ▼ There must be great relief in the minds ! of the Empire's statesmen at the magnificent victory which General Smuts has gained in the South African elections, for, attempt tti' hide it as one may, the Empire's Governments were not a little anxious as to the future of South Africa. General Hertzog, foycleverly misrepresenting his policy as constitutional when Jie- knew all the time that the Republic for .which he aimed could not be gained without a civil war, had made his position fairly strong, and there was reason to fear that in the election which he forced on the country he might by chance gain a majority for his policy. The result of last year's election placed the Government in the difficult position of Being dependent upon the Unionists' goodwill in staving off the Nationalist and Labour parties' attacks, though to its credit Labour did not join General Hertzog in his Republican campaign. General Smuts has had a very hard fight to keep the Government in the 1 hands of those who are loyal''to the Empire and to him, and to the' Unionists who refused to allow party issues to blot-out the one great issue—loyalty to the Empire—belongs the credit for the splendid victory afc ths polls. The figures of the two previous elections are very interesting iit the present stage, and enalble one to make comparisons of the position. The results of the 1915 and 1920 elections were as follow, 1915 figures -being given in parentheses: South African Party ? 42 (57); Unionists, 2G (41); Nationalists, 44 (28); Labour, 21 (5). Latest figures of the last weeVs .election are: South African Party, 78; Nationalists, 43; Labour, 9; Independent, 1. In will be noted that there has been a fusion, of the South African Party and the Unionists, and General Smuts now heads a strong party, while the Nationalist and Labour members together can ! muster an attack too feeble to be dangerous. The elections have shown that there is a strong majority of electors in South Africa desirous of remaining within the Empire, and although1 Labour may not have been guilty of' coquetting with the Nationalists there I is a clear indication in the great Teduc-' tion of its representatives that the i people of South Africa are not prepared io support its policy. General Smuts null now be able to lead a strong stable aorernment and develop his policy, ivhich has been held up by the connnual efforts of General Hert z og to mtmanoeuvre the Premier. True it s that the Hertzogites have been suciessful' in retaining nearly all their ;eats, but the verdict of the electors as i whole makes it quite clear that the sountry holds a substantial majority of )eople in favour of remaining part of ;he British Empire. The elections

should provide an object lesson for those who have^forecasted the dissolution and dismemberment of the British Empire, and at the same time the success of our nation's methods of government is clearly proved. South Afr&a has liardly had sufficient time since the Boer War to live down former prejudices and the (bitterness which that war must have left in the hearts of many of the inhabitants, 'but it is indeed satisfactory to know that an election fought on the great issue of whether or not the Union was to remain . part of the Empire or become a Repub- j lie has resulted in the return\ of an. j overwhelming majority of members in; favour of British government. \ There j need he little fear, therefore, for the other Dominions, except perhaps India, and even there <we believe that the j great bulk of the people are1 loyal. The j outlook for the future of South Africa: iis nowi very encouraging, and } though j the activities of revolutionaries in all the Dominions need to he carefully watched and resistance to them organ- j ised, it is clear that the Emp£'e is in j less danger than it was twelve months ago. It is slowly but surely recovering ' from the disturbing conditions of the warTand before long it should be more strongly united than ever.