BOLD MOVE BY SMUTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18680, 9 April 1924, Page 9

BOLD MOVE BY SMUTS.

WILL GO TO COUNTRY. DISSOLUTION ANNOUNCED. S. AFRICAN PARLIAMENT. EARLY GENERAL ELECTION. EXCITEMENT IN ASSEMBLY By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10.55 p.m.) A. and Reuter. CAPETOWN, April 7. In the House of Assembly, General Smuts, Union Prime Minister, announced that in view of the Wakkerstroom byelection result, Parliament would be dissolved in a few days. He said the Government was doubtful since the election, whether it still enjoyed the confidence of the country. A mere Parliamentary majority was not enough as the Government was dealing with questions of policy which only a Government enjoying the confidence of the country, in addition to the confidence of Parliament, should undertake. Without the full confidence of the country the Government was not prepared to carry on, and therefore he proposed after passing the necessary Appropriation Acts, to advise the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament. If possible, the necessary legislation would be passed by Thursday, through both Houses. Colonel Creswell asked if the general election would take place before or after the visit, of the Prince of Wales, as it would be distinctly inconvenient to have the country in a turmoil while entertaining the Prince. The Prime Minister did not reply. On the motion for adjournment, General Hertzog said he was sure the general public would welcome its cause, and the opportunity of expressing their views. Colonel Creswell, speaking amid uproar, cheers, and counter-cheers, declared that from the day on which this Parliament was elected on entirely false issues, the Labour Party had looked for this dissolution. The last election was intended solely for the reduction of Labour's representation, and they now accepted the Government's challenge. He was confident that the people would reject the present Government.

Nationalists and Labour. Ms. Roos, Leader of the Nationalist Party in the Transvaal, commenting on the dissolution, said that in the event of the success of his party at the elections, ho sincerely trusted the Labour Party would consent to enter into a coalition Ministry, as the presence of Labour Ministers in the Cabinet would satisfy the country that racialism was dead. The scene Sn the Assembly was a dramatic one. It was evident that something unusual was in the air, and there was a larger gathering in the public galleries than usual. The people were anxious to see what the effect of the Wakkerstroom by-election result would be.

There was great cheering and countercheering when General Smuts, General Hertzog and other leaders entered the House, also during the announcement of the result of the by-election. It culminated in such an uproar that Colonel Creswell had to speak at the top of his voice^ Announcement Unexpected. General Smuts' announcement of the dissolution came as a complete surprise. From his previous utterances it was not expected he would contemplate an appeal to the country so soon. The dissolution involves the lapse of several important measures, including the Class Areas Bill and the South-west Africa Naturalisation Bill. The Wakkerstroom defeat reduces the Government's nominal majority to eight, and deducting the Speaker and Mr. Merriman, who is too ill to attend, the working majority in the House is only six. 'Die loss of Wakkerstroom is attributed mainly to the turnover of the railway vole, the men being annoyed by economies introduced by the Minister for Railways. The main comments on the Wakkerstroom by-election are to the effect that it proved that the Nationalist-Labour "pact" will be tho most important factor at the. general elections. The Cape Times says ■ it is an urgent warning that the South African Party's house must be set in order by continuous organisation, otherwise defeat stares the party in the face at the elections.