South Africa before the Elections

Abstract

T IKE other countries, the Union of South Africa has suffered 11 from the universal trade depression. Dependent during '* ^ many years on Great Britain for some of the commonest necessities of life, she during the war was forced by the German submarine campaign's menace to sea communications to rely on her own resources. Consequently many new industries were opened up. South African products, such as wool, were sold at unheard of prices; indeed, to put the matter plainly, the close of the war saw the Union more prosperous than at the beginning. But now she is feeling the pinch. The prices of her usual pre war exports have dropped practically to normal, while her new manufactures are not yet of sufficiently good quality to compete in the open markets of the world; the banks, which were inclined to be over-liberal at one time, have been obliged, owing to certain disastrous speculations, to curtail their credit and call in bills; and altogether it may be said that there is less loose cash circu lating in the Union today than in 1917. Every month business leaders remark that the worst is over and predict that an im provement will soon be apparent. But it seems we have not yet reached zero, nor is the reason hard to seek. As long as Europe is in its present unsettled state, so long will there be financial instability in South Africa. This, however, is not a reasoning that appeals to the general public. They blame the government. And it is from this and no other cause that South Africa is facing a political crisis regard ing which much misinformation is being sent broadcast either by interested parties or by those ignorant of the real state of affairs. The splendid self-immolation of the Unionist Party1 some two years ago, when it allowed itself to be absorbed in the South African Party in order to make the secession question a clear issue at the polls, enabled Smuts to gain a clear majority of 22 over the two remaining parties, and it seemed then as if his government was assured of its normal four-year term of office with full opportunity to introduce much-needed social legislation. Of the Prime Minister himself there is little need to speak. His features and his work are familiar to the world; but in no