ELECTION IN PRUSSIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18620, 26 April 1932, Page 7

ELECTION IN PRUSSIA.

GOVERNMENT DEFEATED. SUCCESS OF NAZIS. BITTER CONTEST. COMMUNISTS’ HOLD BALANCE. Urured Prcjs Assn.—FJcc. Tel. Copyright. BERLIN, April 24. Polling for the election of a new Prussian Diet took place to-day. ’ A semi-official report gives the final result as follows: — Seats. Opposition (Including 160 Nazis) 196 Government Parties 102 Communists 56 The feature of the election was the swallowing-up of the Right Parties by the Nazis. This was illustrated by the final return from the Oppeln district of Silesia. There the Nazis increased their vote from 63,000 in 1930 to 212,000, at the expense of the Nationalists. The other Right Parties were almost wiped out.

Precautions Fulfilled. The results have fulfilled the predictions of the Nazis that they would displace the Socialists as the strongest Party In the State, but they have not achieved an absolute majority as the Communists hold the balance of power. Imperial, Republican, Nazi and Communist flags fluttered throughout Prussia all day, those of the Nazis, and Communists predominating in the workers’ district. Polling was brisker than at the second ballot for tho Presidential elction. The struggle came to a climax at midnight, when all the leaders addressed mass meetings. Herr Hitler’s efforts failed at Hamburg. He suffered through his opponents tampering with a loud-speaker, as a result of which the Nazi champion’s fulminations were temporarily inaudible. There were numerous partisan scuffles in Berlin, necessitating 200 arrests. The campaign was conducted with even greater bitterness In the provinces. One of the worst collisions occurred at Breslau, where more than a dozen Nazis, Communists and Socialists were sent to hospital. Two Nazis were killed In clashes. One was shot at Berlin and the other stabbed at the village of Ilamborn. where Communists charged a Nazi procession, wounding several distributors of leaflets and fa/Uly Injuring tho “storm troops,” leader. There was a serious outbreak at Duisburg In a concert hall. A farmer was relating his experiences in Russia when a Communist threw a hand grenade Into the auditorium. It did not explode, however. \ In the subsequent fighting chairs and various weapons were used and 30 people were injured, several of them seriously. The pilot of a Nazi propaganda aeroplane made a forced landing at Dusseldorf. Communists mobbed him and attempted to set fire to ids machine. The police finally rescued him. Frequent disturbances occurred in the Rhineland and Westphalia. Policemen armed with carbines were kept busy patrolling the cities throughout the country and hundreds of arrests were made. Prussia, which comprises the larger portion of Germany, was proclaimed a Republic on November 13, 1918. The. Constitution, adopted on November 30, 1920, gives a vote to every citizen, male and female, over 20 years of age in general, equal, secret and direct suffrage. At the last election for a Parliament, on May 20, 1928, the result was a follows: Social Democrats ........ 137 Centre (Ga l holies) 71 German National Party 82 National Socialists 6 German People’s Party .. 40 Democrats 21 Communists 56 Economic Party 21 German Hanoverians .... 4 Farmers’ Party 8 German Race Party 2 People’s Right Party .... 2 Total 430 The Government, which has been in power since April 4, 1925, is led by Her Otto Broun, as Premier.