SOUTH AFRICAN PARTIES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1933, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICAN PARTIES

PROPOSALS FOR A COALITION

MR. T. ROOS AND GENERAL SMUTS.

CESSATION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.

NEITHER LEADER ABLE TO AGREE.

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Cape Town, Jan. 13. Negotiations between Mr. Tielman Koos and me South African Party were broken off this evening. Mr. Koos asked for five portfolios for the Nationalist I arty, one tor the Labour Party, and live for General C. J. Smuts’ Opposition Party, totalling eleven, the Prime Minister to be acceptable to both parties. This would mean that Mr. Roos or another Nationalist would be Prime Minister. ' General Smuts telegraphed that he could' not agree, and reported the oiler of Mr. Roos as deputy-Premier plus three portfolios. Thereupon Mr. Koos broke off the negotiations. Mr. Roos in a statement said the fight for a Coalition would be continued.

The objective of Mr. Roos, formerly 'a Nationalist Minister, was to form a Coalition with the' Opposition led by General Smuts iiS order to overthrow General J. B. M. Hertzog’s Government. Mr. Roos announced that he would move a no-confidence motion in Parliament when it reassembled on January 20, but he had not then consulted General Smuts, who said he could not countenance the coalition plan, being at that stage able only to wish Mr. Roos good luck. Subsequently difficulty arose over the South African- exchange system. The country, which steadfastly remained on the gold standard after most of the other countries of the Empire, including Britain, had departed from it, is now virtually off gold as a currency standard as a result of the Reserve Bank- having been relieved by - the Government of redeeming notes in gold. Utter chaos in trade and banking • resulted from the virtual suspension of the gold standard.