Southern Rhodesia government referendum, 1922
Encyclopedia
The Southern Rhodesia government referendum of October 27, 1922 saw the voters of the colony of Southern Rhodesia
by a comfortable majority reject the chance to join the Union of South Africa
in favour of establishing a responsible government within the colony. It prefaced the official granting of responsible government on October 1, 1923.
resulted in a majority which favoured immediate moves towards establishing "Responsible Government
" within the colony. Immediately after the election the Legislative Council passed a resolution requesting the United Kingdom
government to inaugurate responsible government, and the United Kingdom's response was establishing a Commission under Earl Buxton
, a former Liberal
minister.
The Commission reported in 1921 that the Colony was ready for responsible government and that a referendum should be held to confirm it. A delegation was sent from the Legislative Council to negotiate with the Colonial Office on the form of the constitution. The delegation comprised Sir Charles Coghlan
, W. M. Leggate, J. McChlery, R. A. Fletcher, and Sir Francis Newton. At the 1920 election there had been three schools of opinion in Southern Rhodesia, one favouring responsible government inside Southern Rhodesia, one favouring a continuation of rule through the British South Africa Company
, and the third believing that the best solution would be to seek membership of the Union of South Africa
. The British South Africa Company option dropped out of consideration, but the Buxton Commission had said that its recommendations should not preclude consideration of joining South Africa if this was favoured by voters.
The Southern Rhodesians did petition the Colonial Office to inquire what circumstances the Union of South Africa would admit them, as this option had received some support (especially in Matabeleland
) at the election. Representatives of the Southern Rhodesian administration visited Cape Town
to confer with Jan Smuts
who after some delay was willing to offer terms he considered reasonable and which were also acceptable to the United Kingdom government. In accordance with the wishes of Winston Churchill
(the Secretary of State for the Colonies
in London), the Southern Rhodesians decided to invite the electorate to make the decision. Although they did not try to interfere in the referendum, opinion among the United Kingdom government, the South African government and the British South Africa Company favoured the union option.
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
by a comfortable majority reject the chance to join the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
in favour of establishing a responsible government within the colony. It prefaced the official granting of responsible government on October 1, 1923.
Background
The referendum arose after the Legislative Council election of 1920Southern Rhodesia Legislative Council election, 1920
The Southern Rhodesia Legislative Council election of 30 April 1920 was the seventh election to the Legislative Council of Southern Rhodesia. At this election the Legislative Council comprised thirteen elected members, together with six members nominated by the British South Africa Company, and the...
resulted in a majority which favoured immediate moves towards establishing "Responsible Government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
" within the colony. Immediately after the election the Legislative Council passed a resolution requesting the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government to inaugurate responsible government, and the United Kingdom's response was establishing a Commission under Earl Buxton
Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton
Sydney Charles Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton GCMG, PC was a British Liberal politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-Background and education:...
, a former Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
minister.
The Commission reported in 1921 that the Colony was ready for responsible government and that a referendum should be held to confirm it. A delegation was sent from the Legislative Council to negotiate with the Colonial Office on the form of the constitution. The delegation comprised Sir Charles Coghlan
Charles Patrick John Coghlan
Sir Charles Patrick John Coghlan was the first Premier of Southern Rhodesia and held office from October 1, 1923 until his death on August 28, 1927....
, W. M. Leggate, J. McChlery, R. A. Fletcher, and Sir Francis Newton. At the 1920 election there had been three schools of opinion in Southern Rhodesia, one favouring responsible government inside Southern Rhodesia, one favouring a continuation of rule through the British South Africa Company
British South Africa Company
The British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
, and the third believing that the best solution would be to seek membership of the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
. The British South Africa Company option dropped out of consideration, but the Buxton Commission had said that its recommendations should not preclude consideration of joining South Africa if this was favoured by voters.
The Southern Rhodesians did petition the Colonial Office to inquire what circumstances the Union of South Africa would admit them, as this option had received some support (especially in Matabeleland
Matabeleland
Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
) at the election. Representatives of the Southern Rhodesian administration visited Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
to confer with Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
who after some delay was willing to offer terms he considered reasonable and which were also acceptable to the United Kingdom government. In accordance with the wishes of Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
(the Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
in London), the Southern Rhodesians decided to invite the electorate to make the decision. Although they did not try to interfere in the referendum, opinion among the United Kingdom government, the South African government and the British South Africa Company favoured the union option.
Arrangements
The election used the existing Legislative Council electoral roll and votes were counted in the electoral districts used for the Legislative Council elections. However, there was one minor change, with voters entitled to cast their votes in whichever district they wanted, regardless of where they were registered.Results
With an electorate of 18,810, the total number of votes cast was 14,763, a turnout of 78.5%. All but one of the electoral districts supported Responsible government and rejected Union with South Africa. The one district to support a Union with South Africa was Marandellas, and this was by a slim margin.| Electoral district | Responsible government | % | Union with South Africa | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulawayo District | 551 | 65.0 | 297 | 35.0 |
| Bulawayo North | 826 | 67.9 | 390 | 32.1 |
| Bulawayo South | 955 | 64.0 | 538 | 36.0 |
| Eastern | 711 | 57.5 | 526 | 42.5 |
| Gwelo | 582 | 57.3 | 433 | 42.7 |
| Hartley | 449 | 66.5 | 226 | 33.5 |
| Marandellas | 433 | 49.4 | 443 | 50.6 |
| Midlands | 550 | 51.9 | 509 | 48.1 |
| Northern | 741 | 60.3 | 487 | 39.7 |
| Salisbury District | 845 | 57.3 | 629 | 42.7 |
| Salisbury Town | 894 | 63.8 | 507 | 36.2 |
| Victoria | 626 | 51.7 | 585 | 48.3 |
| Western | 611 | 59.3 | 419 | 40.7 |
| Total | 8,774 | 59.4 | 5,989 | 40.6 |