Southern Rhodesian general election, 1948
Encyclopedia
The Southern Rhodesia general election of September 15, 1948 saw the Prime Minister
Godfrey Huggins regain the overall majority he had lost at the previous election
. Huggins won a landslide, reducing the opposition Liberal Party
to a small minority.
that he needed to justify asking for a dissolution of the Assembly and a general election, as the Governor was not necessarily willing to grant one merely because it had been asked for.
Early in 1948, Huggins made his move by proposing that his own United Party merge with the opposition Liberal Party (which was a right-wing organisation). He then went to the Legislative Assembly and put down a motion of confidence in his government which endorsed all its policies for the full term of the Assembly. The Liberal Party, sensing a trap, agreed to the principle of fusion of the two parties but insisted that it be on the basis of Liberal Party policy. When the vote of confidence debate was concluded on February 6, Huggins accepted an amendment moved by the Rhodesia Labour Party, and the confidence motion then passed without a division. Huggins had lost his chance for an election but gained endorsement of his government.
This situation did not last long. In July, the Coinage and Currency Bill was defeated by one vote on a clause which would have allowed the Currency Board to provide accommodation. Although this was a minor matter, Huggins argued that it was an issue of confidence because this provision had been agreed with the governments of Northern Rhodesia
and Nyasaland
in the Central African Council; as negotiations to form a new majority government failed, the Governor granted a dissolution.
Supporting Huggins' position, the South African general election
in May that year had seen a win by the National Party
which largely represented Afrikaner
s. This election marked a transfer of power away from the English-speaking South Africans and shocked the mostly British descended Southern Rhodesians, who recoiled from the Liberal Party who were backed by the small Rhodesian Afrikaner community; the Liberal Party's policy on race was similar to the National Party's policy of Apartheid.
Voters tended not to blame the government for the economic difficulties and petrol shortages which had affected Rhodesia in the years since the war, and the renewed push towards federation with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland also encouraged support for the United Party. In the end, it delivered a landslide for Huggins; Liberal Party leader Jacob Smit lost his seat.
of the electoral districts. Although the previous districts had only been drawn up in 1938, owing to the major population movements in the war none of the districts were unchanged.
The Electoral Amendment Act, 1946 made a further series of minor changes. It provided for a new full registration of voters once the delimitation had been completed, and facilitated the disqualification of imprisoned voters by requiring returns of those sentenced to prison. It also allowed candidates to withdraw before the poll.
Turnout: 73.2%
Prime Minister of Rhodesia
The Prime Minister of Rhodesia was the head of government in the colony of Rhodesia. Rhodesia's political system was modelled on the Westminster system and the Prime Minister's role was similar to that of the same position in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New...
Godfrey Huggins regain the overall majority he had lost at the previous election
Southern Rhodesia general election, 1946
The Southern Rhodesia general election of April 25, 1946 was held seven years after the previous election, the term of the Assembly having been extended so that there would be no general election during the Second World War...
. Huggins won a landslide, reducing the opposition Liberal Party
Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party
The Southern Rhodesian Liberal Party was a political party in Southern Rhodesia, founded in 1939 by Jacob Smit , the former United Party minister of finance...
to a small minority.
Background
The 1946 election had left the United Party in a precarious position in an overall minority in the Legislative Assembly, and reliant on the support of the Rhodesia Labour Party. Huggins was therefore seeking an opportunity to re-establish an overall majority. However, Huggins knew from his experience in 1934Southern Rhodesia general election, 1934
The Southern Rhodesia general election of November 7, 1934 was the fourth election since the colony of Southern Rhodesia was granted self-government. The election was called only a year after the previous election when the Prime Minister, Godfrey Huggins, formed the United Party as a merger of the...
that he needed to justify asking for a dissolution of the Assembly and a general election, as the Governor was not necessarily willing to grant one merely because it had been asked for.
Early in 1948, Huggins made his move by proposing that his own United Party merge with the opposition Liberal Party (which was a right-wing organisation). He then went to the Legislative Assembly and put down a motion of confidence in his government which endorsed all its policies for the full term of the Assembly. The Liberal Party, sensing a trap, agreed to the principle of fusion of the two parties but insisted that it be on the basis of Liberal Party policy. When the vote of confidence debate was concluded on February 6, Huggins accepted an amendment moved by the Rhodesia Labour Party, and the confidence motion then passed without a division. Huggins had lost his chance for an election but gained endorsement of his government.
This situation did not last long. In July, the Coinage and Currency Bill was defeated by one vote on a clause which would have allowed the Currency Board to provide accommodation. Although this was a minor matter, Huggins argued that it was an issue of confidence because this provision had been agreed with the governments of Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
and Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
in the Central African Council; as negotiations to form a new majority government failed, the Governor granted a dissolution.
Supporting Huggins' position, the South African general election
South African general election, 1948
The parliamentary election in South Africa on 26 May 1948 represented a turning point in the country's history. The United Party, which had led the government since its foundation in 1933 and its leader, incumbent Prime Minister Jan Smuts was ousted by the Reunited National Party , led by Daniel...
in May that year had seen a win by the National Party
Herenigde Nasionale Party
The Herenigde Nasionale Party was a political party in South Africa during the 1940s. It was the product of the reunion of Daniel François Malan's Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party and J.B.M. Hertzog's breakaway Afrikaner nationalist faction of the United Party in 1940.In 1934, J.B.M...
which largely represented Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
s. This election marked a transfer of power away from the English-speaking South Africans and shocked the mostly British descended Southern Rhodesians, who recoiled from the Liberal Party who were backed by the small Rhodesian Afrikaner community; the Liberal Party's policy on race was similar to the National Party's policy of Apartheid.
Voters tended not to blame the government for the economic difficulties and petrol shortages which had affected Rhodesia in the years since the war, and the renewed push towards federation with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland also encouraged support for the United Party. In the end, it delivered a landslide for Huggins; Liberal Party leader Jacob Smit lost his seat.
Electoral districts
A Delimitation Commission was set up to redraw the boundariesBoundary delimitation
Boundary delimitation, or simply delimitation, is the term used to describe the drawing of boundaries, but is most often used to describe the drawing of electoral boundaries, specifically those of precincts, states, counties or other municipalities...
of the electoral districts. Although the previous districts had only been drawn up in 1938, owing to the major population movements in the war none of the districts were unchanged.
Franchise and Electoral procedure
Two Acts passed in the run-up to the election made changes to electoral procedure. The Emergency Laws (Repeal and Transitional Provisions) Act, 1946 repealed most of the Active Service Voters Act, 1943 and therefore removed the ability of Southern Rhodesians serving in forces outside the colony to vote. The provision allowing postal votes to those living more than 10 miles from the polling station was retained.The Electoral Amendment Act, 1946 made a further series of minor changes. It provided for a new full registration of voters once the delimitation had been completed, and facilitated the disqualification of imprisoned voters by requiring returns of those sentenced to prison. It also allowed candidates to withdraw before the poll.
Summary result
Electorate: 47,840Turnout: 73.2%
| Party | Seats in 1946 Southern Rhodesia general election, 1946 The Southern Rhodesia general election of April 25, 1946 was held seven years after the previous election, the term of the Assembly having been extended so that there would be no general election during the Second World War... |
Candidates | Elected | Unopposed | Popular vote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |||||
| United Party United Federal Party The United Federal Party, previously known as the United Party and the United Rhodesia Party, was one of Southern Rhodesia's most successful political parties, and governed the country for over 30 years... |
13 | 30 | 24 | - | 19,731 | 56.3 |
| Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party The Southern Rhodesian Liberal Party was a political party in Southern Rhodesia, founded in 1939 by Jacob Smit , the former United Party minister of finance... |
12 | 28 | 5 | - | 10,678 | 30.5 |
| Rhodesia Labour Party Rhodesia Labour Party The Rhodesia Labour Party was a political party which existed in Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until the 1950s. Originally formed on the model of the British Labour Party from trade unions and being especially dominated by railway workers, it formed the main opposition party from 1934 to 1946... |
3 | 16 | 1 | - | 4,558 | 13.0 |
| Dominion Party | - | 2 | - | - | 61 | 0.2 |
| Totals | 30 | 76 | 30 | - | 35,028 | 100% |
Results
- DP - Dominion Party
- Lab - Rhodesia Labour PartyRhodesia Labour PartyThe Rhodesia Labour Party was a political party which existed in Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until the 1950s. Originally formed on the model of the British Labour Party from trade unions and being especially dominated by railway workers, it formed the main opposition party from 1934 to 1946...
- L - Liberal Party
- UP - United PartyUnited Federal PartyThe United Federal Party, previously known as the United Party and the United Rhodesia Party, was one of Southern Rhodesia's most successful political parties, and governed the country for over 30 years...
| Constituency Electorate and turnout |
Candidate | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVONDALE 1,962 (80.0%) |
John Richard Dendy Young | UP | 1,021 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Albert Rubidge Washington Stumbles |
L | 548 | |
| BULAWAYO CENTRAL 1,658 (73.9%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Donald Macintyre |
UP | 762 |
| William Hives Eastwood | Lab | 327 | |
| Peter Bawtree Gibbs | L | 147 | |
| BULAWAYO DISTRICT 1,411 (77.3%) |
Alexander Magnus Flett Stuart | UP | 647 |
| John Morrison Macdonald | L | 238 | |
| Allan Watson Whittington | Lab | 205 | |
| BULAWAYO EAST 2,100 (81.7%) |
Robert Francis Halsted | UP | 1,029 |
| Ian Donald MacGillivray | L | 398 | |
| Leonard James Pearl | Lab | 288 | |
| BULAWAYO NORTH 1,567 (73.0%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Thomas Hugh William Beadle |
UP | 905 |
| Mrs. Ethel Davies | Lab | 239 | |
| BULAWAYO SOUTH 1,657 (67.5%) |
Henry Alfred Holmes | UP | 678 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... James Stuart McNeillie |
Lab | 441 | |
| CHARTER 1,206 (66.8%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Jacob Letterstedt Smit |
L | 513 |
| Thomas John Mangwe Tilbury | UP | 293 | |
| EASTERN 1,495 (66.2%) |
Tom Ian Findlay Wilson | UP | 631 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Aubrey William Dunn |
L | 359 | |
| GATOOMA 1,204 (67.4%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... George Munro |
L | 412 |
| Graham Caldwell Elliott | UP | 399 | |
| GWELO 1,638 (75.0%) |
Desmond William Lardner-Burke | UP | 626 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Robert Williamson |
L | 518 | |
| Friedrich Ferdinand Ludwig Hein | Lab | 84 | |
| HARTLEY 1,130 (70.1%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Patrick Archibald Wise |
L | 406 |
| Ralph Drew Palmer | UP | 386 | |
| HIGHLANDS 2,218 (77.4%) |
Robert Allan Ballantyne | UP | 937 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Charles Arden Bott |
L | 690 | |
| William Rhodes Eades | Lab | 90 | |
| HILLSIDE 1,844 (82.0%) |
Julius Macdonald Greenfield | UP | 677 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Harry Herbert Davies |
Lab | 570 | |
| Olive Hope Robertson | L | 266 | |
| LOMAGUNDI 1,430 (73.7%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... George Henry Hackwill |
UP | 653 |
| John Scott | L | 401 | |
| MARANDELLAS 1,370 (71.6%) |
Neville Gwynne Barrett | UP | 544 |
| William Thomas Edward Fitzsimons | L | 437 | |
| MAZOE 1,267 (75.2%) |
John Moore Caldicott | UP | 510 |
| Thomas Patrick Murray Cochran | L | 443 | |
| QUE QUE 1,382 (71.9%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... George Arthur Davenport |
UP | 559 |
| Thomas Nangle | Lab | 269 | |
| Henry William Watt | L | 165 | |
| RAYLTON 1,627 (65.8%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Lawrence John Walter Keller |
Lab | 615 |
| Alexander Cockburn | UP | 337 | |
| Cecil Edward Mark Moore | L | 119 | |
| SALISBURY CENTRAL 1,628 (68.9%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Leslie Manfred Noel Hodson |
UP | 722 |
| David Symond Richards | L | 264 | |
| George Arthur Henry Radford | Lab | 135 | |
| SALISBURY CITY 1,729 (75.0%) |
Bevis Alexander Barker | UP | 765 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Jacob Hendrik Smit |
L | 519 | |
| Francis Michael Nilan | DP | 13 | |
| SALISBURY DISTRICT 2,076 (78.4%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Leslie Major Cullinan |
UP | 1,082 |
| William Graham | L | 545 | |
| SALISBURY GARDENS 1,587 (67.2%) |
Noel St. Quinton | UP | 701 |
| Frank Henry Shepley Waller | L | 259 | |
| Charles Olley | Lab | 107 | |
| SALISBURY NORTH 1,772 (76.8%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Godfrey Martin Huggins |
UP | 1,024 |
| Hugh Volant Wheeler | L | 337 | |
| SALISBURY SOUTH 2,683 (74.5%) |
William Alexander Eustace Winterton | UP | 1,095 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Denzil Crichton Paul |
L | 713 | |
| George Cyril Hamilton-Browne | Lab | 143 | |
| Stewart Edward Aitken-Cade | DP | 48 | |
| SELUKWE 1,090 (68.5%) |
Ian Douglas Smith Ian Smith Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979... |
L | 361 |
| Egon Aage Klifborg | Lab | 258 | |
| Petrus Johannes Cilliers | UP | 128 | |
| SHABANI 1,651 (69.2%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd Garfield Todd Sir Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd was a reformist Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia from 1953 to 1958 and later became an opponent of white minority rule in Rhodesia. He was born in Invercargill, New Zealand.-Background:... |
UP | 685 |
| Johannes Hendrik Hofmeyr | L | 458 | |
| UMTALI 1,914 (79.7%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Edgar Cuthbert Fremantle Whitehead Edgar Whitehead Sir Edgar Cuthbert Fremantle Whitehead, OBE, was a Rhodesian politician. He was a longstanding member of the Southern Rhodesia Legislative Assembly, although his career was interrupted by other posts and by illness. In particular he had poor eyesight, and wore very thick glasses, and later... |
UP | 766 |
| † Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... James Brown Lister |
Lab | 648 | |
| George Washington Chace | L | 112 | |
| VICTORIA 1,436 (71.4%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Raymond Osborne Stockil |
L | 633 |
| Richard Charles Ellis | UP | 393 | |
| WANKIE 1,169 (62.4%) |
Humphrey Vicary Gibbs Humphrey Gibbs Sir Humphrey Vicary Gibbs, GCVO, KCMG, OBE was the penultimate Governor of the colony of Southern Rhodesia who served through, and opposed, the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965.... |
UP | 376 |
| George Wilburn Rudland | L | 204 | |
| William James Swift | Lab | 150 | |
| WESTERN 939 (65.3%) |
† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Patrick Bissett Fletcher |
UP | 400 |
| Michael Vernon Rorke | L | 213 |
Bulawayo District
Alexander Magnus Flett Stuart died on August 7, 1949, and a byelection to replace him was held on October 13, 1949.| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BULAWAYO DISTRICT | William Hives Eastwood | Lab | 381 |
| John Morrison Macdonald | L | 351 | |
| Peter George Hewison | UP | 288 | |
| Sydney Henderson Millar | Ind | 89 |
Bulawayo North
Thomas Hugh William Beadle resigned from the Assembly on July 20, 1950. A byelection to replace him was held on September 19, 1950.| Constituency Electorate and turnout |
Candidate | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BULAWAYO NORTH 1,925 (69.2%) |
Cyril James Hatty | UP | 507 |
| James Stuart McNeillie | Lab | 471 | |
| Eric Ashdown Smart | L | 354 |
Highlands
Robert Allan Ballantyne died on February 5, 1953. A byelection to replace him was held on April 22, 1953.| Constituency Electorate and turnout |
Candidate | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHLANDS 2,334 (77.7%) |
William Addison | UP | 782 |
| Frederick Daniel John Lacey | Lab | 531 | |
| Dickerson Colfax Byron-Moore | RP | 501 |