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1924 Southern Rhodesian general election

General elections were held in Southern Rhodesia on 29 April 1924, the first elections to the new Legislative Assembly following the granting of responsible government to the colony. The result was a comprehensive victory for the Rhodesia Party, which had been formed by the supporters of responsible government, who won 26 out of the 30 seats.

1924 Southern Rhodesian general election

← 1920 29 April 1924 1928 →

All 30 seats in the Legislative Assembly
16 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Charles Coghlan Lawrence John Walter Keller
Party Rhodesia Party Labour
Leader since 1923 1923
Leader's seat Bulawayo North Bulawayo South
(Unelected)
Seats won 26 0
Popular vote 13,987 3,527
Percentage 58.33% 14.71%

Premier before election

Charles Coghlan
Rhodesia Party

Subsequent Premier

Charles Coghlan
Rhodesia Party

Electoral system Edit

No change was made to the basic electoral procedure which continued to be the single non-transferable vote, or First past the post system, cast by means of the secret ballot.

The Letters Patent granting the colony the right to self-government in 1923 made no change to the pre-existing franchise. The law provided that voters must have been resident in Southern Rhodesia for at least six months, and have the ability to complete the claim form for the electoral register in their own handwriting if the registrar required, and to write from dictation 50 words in the English language. In addition, voters had to meet one of three criteria for their financial means: either occupy property worth £150 in their Electoral District, or own a registered mining claim within the colony (for which residence was not required), or receive annual salary of £100 in the colony.

The Letters Patent created a legislative assembly with 30 members, and for simplicity the 15 electoral districts set the previous year for the Legislative Council were used for the new assembly, but with each district returning two members. Voters were therefore entitled to two votes.

Political parties Edit

Since the previous election, and the grant of responsible government, the Responsible Government Association had organised itself under the leadership of Sir Charles Coghlan into the Rhodesia Party and been appointed as the new government. In addition the Rhodesia Labour Party, which had been formed some years before, entered into the election. However a substantial number of candidates fought as Independents on their own record. In general these candidates represented small farmers, small businesses and mining interests.

Campaign Edit

The Labour Party had supported the Responsible Government Association in its campaign for a separate government for the colony, and in opposition to union with South Africa, and members of both parties hoped to reach agreement on an allocation of seats between them so that they did not oppose each other. Negotiations were unsuccessful and where candidates of the parties were fighting for seats, the fight between them became bitter. The independent candidates were also in opposition to the 'establishment' party and many stressed the need for a strong opposition in the new Assembly.

Results Edit

PartyVotes%Seats
Rhodesia Party13,98758.3326
Rhodesia Labour Party3,52714.710
Independents6,46626.964
Total23,980100.0030
Valid votes11,99098.46
Invalid/blank votes1871.54
Total votes12,177100.00
Registered voters/turnout20,06060.70
Source: Willson

By constituency Edit

Constituency
Electorate and turnout
Candidate Party Votes
BULAWAYO CENTRAL
1,493 (54.8%)
Francis Leslie Hadfield RP 420
James Cowden RP 397
Septimus Leonard John Steggall Lab 249
Harry Joseph Sonnenberg Ind 217
William George Durbin Morsman Lab 194
Frederick Fisher Ind 159
BULAWAYO DISTRICT
1,253 (62.3%)
Frederic Philip Mennell RP 499
Alexander Robert Thomson RP 492
Harry Herbert Davies Lab 335
George Walter Price Lab 234
BULAWAYO NORTH
1,490 (62.9%)
Sir Charles Patrick John Coghlan RP 830
Robert James Hudson RP 771
William Davies Lab 274
BULAWAYO SOUTH
1,486 (69.0%)
Charles Folliot Birney RP 631
Henry Robert Barbour RP 469
Lawrence John Walter Keller Lab 408
George Mitchell Ind 303
Robert John Dent Lab 241
EASTERN
1,617 (64.2%)
Charles Edward Gilfillan Ind 590
John Louis Martin Ind 576
Lewis Aloys MacDonald Hastings RP 552
William Matthias Longden RP 359
GWELO
1,456 (66.0%)
David Campbell Duncan Munro RP 572
Max Danziger RP 527
John Charles Jesser Coope Ind 401
James Henry Edwards Ind 257
James White Ross Lab 165
HARTLEY
1,519 (58.2%)
Sir Ernest William Sanders Montagu Ind 426
Osmond Charteris Du Port RP 422
Richard Wright Albertson Ind 379
Burton Ireland Collings RP 275
Robert Hawker Futter Ind 267
MAZOE
1,351 (50.4%)
Sir Francis James Newton RP 624
John Wallace Downie RP 579
William Martin Lab 159
MIDLANDS
1,321 (70.6%)
Robert Dunipace Gilchrist RP 415
William James Boggie RP 307
John Austen Ind 307
Henry Tyndall Brett Ind 260
William Harrison Lab 184
Miss Ellen Constance Steedman Ind 150
Walter Douglas Douglas-Jones Ind 130
George Alexander Campbell Lab 111
NORTHERN
1,387 (54.7%)
William Muter Leggate RP 612
James Murdoch Eaton RP 608
John McChlery Ind 296
SALISBURY NORTH
1,876
Percival Donald Leslie Fynn RP unopposed
Godfrey Martin Huggins RP unopposed
SALISBURY SOUTH
1,454 (58.1%)
Harry Bertin RP 595
George Frederick Elcombe RP 433
Milton Evan Cleveland Ind 329
George Harold Johnson Ind 208
Albert Edward Wetherill Lab 125
UMTALI
1,598 (60.1%)
Charles Eickhoff RP 506
Mrs. Ethel Tawse Jollie RP 404
William Robb Love Lab 378
James Allin Methuen Lab 299
Francis Rudolph Myburgh Ind 206
Thomas Benjamin Hulley Ind 130
VICTORIA
1,353 (52.0%)
Howard Unwin Moffat RP 539
Lucius Knapp Robinson RP 469
John Albert Halliday Ind 399
WESTERN
1,282 (51.8%)
Robert Alexander Fletcher Ind 476
John Parke Richardson RP 375
William Elliot Thomas RP 306
William Edward Green Lab 171

Note: As the Midlands result was a tie between Boggie and Austen, the election was determined by a drawing of lots, which was supervised by a Judge of the High Court, on 15 May 1924.

Changes during the Assembly Edit

Mazoe Edit

Sir Francis Newton resigned on 26 August 1924 on appointment as High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Southern Rhodesia, precipitating a byelection in his electoral district which was held on 26 September 1924.

Constituency
Electorate and turnout
Candidate Party Votes
MAZOE
1,351 (53.6%)
Percy Sidney Inskipp RP 394
John William Dunlop Ind RP 330

Salisbury South Edit

George Elcombe resigned his seat on 10 January 1927 and a byelection was held on 8 March 1927.

Constituency
Electorate and turnout
Candidate Party Votes
SALISBURY SOUTH
1,454 (64.9%)
Frank William Frederick Johnson Ind 406
John William Dunlop Lab 362
Burton Ireland Collings RP 175

Bulawayo North Edit

Sir Charles Coghlan died on 28 August 1927 and a byelection was held on 18 November 1927.

Constituency Candidate Party Votes
BULAWAYO NORTH Allan Ross Welsh RP 549
Edward Jonathan Davies Lab 377

Midlands Edit

William James Boggie died on 8 February 1928 and a byelection was held on 18 April 1928.

Constituency
Electorate and turnout
Candidate Party Votes
MIDLANDS
1,374 (47.5%)
Arthur James Taylor RP 352
Alexander Louis Wynand Koch Worsthorne PP 301

Defections Edit

There were a number of changes within the assembly. Robert Dunipace Gilchrist 'crossed the floor' to sit as an opposition Independent in 1925. He was followed in May 1927 by Francis Leslie Hadfield and Max Danziger. In June 1927, the Progressive Party was formed by Harry Bertin, Robert Alexander Fletcher, Robert Dunipace Gilchrist, George Edward Gilfillan, Francis Leslie Hadfield, Frank William Frederick Johnson, John Louis Martin, Frederic Philip Mennell and Sir Ernest William Sanders Montagu. This party campaigned for a pro-white immigration policy, the development of Matabeleland, and establishing African reserves. It was opposed to monopolies, and sought reform and depoliticisation of the Civil Service.

References Edit

  • Source Book of Parliamentary Elections and Referenda in Southern Rhodesia 1898–1962 ed. by F.M.G. Willson (Department of Government, University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Salisbury 1963)
  • Holders of Administrative and Ministerial Office 1894–1964 by F.M.G. Willson and G.C. Passmore, assisted by Margaret T. Mitchell (Source Book No. 3, Department of Government, University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Salisbury 1966)

1924, southern, rhodesian, general, election, general, elections, were, held, southern, rhodesia, april, 1924, first, elections, legislative, assembly, following, granting, responsible, government, colony, result, comprehensive, victory, rhodesia, party, which. General elections were held in Southern Rhodesia on 29 April 1924 the first elections to the new Legislative Assembly following the granting of responsible government to the colony The result was a comprehensive victory for the Rhodesia Party which had been formed by the supporters of responsible government who won 26 out of the 30 seats 1924 Southern Rhodesian general election 1920 29 April 1924 1928 All 30 seats in the Legislative Assembly16 seats needed for a majority First party Second party Leader Charles Coghlan Lawrence John Walter KellerParty Rhodesia Party LabourLeader since 1923 1923Leader s seat Bulawayo North Bulawayo South Unelected Seats won 26 0Popular vote 13 987 3 527Percentage 58 33 14 71 Premier before electionCharles CoghlanRhodesia Party Subsequent Premier Charles CoghlanRhodesia Party Contents 1 Electoral system 2 Political parties 3 Campaign 4 Results 4 1 By constituency 5 Changes during the Assembly 5 1 Mazoe 5 2 Salisbury South 5 3 Bulawayo North 5 4 Midlands 5 5 Defections 6 ReferencesElectoral system EditNo change was made to the basic electoral procedure which continued to be the single non transferable vote or First past the post system cast by means of the secret ballot The Letters Patent granting the colony the right to self government in 1923 made no change to the pre existing franchise The law provided that voters must have been resident in Southern Rhodesia for at least six months and have the ability to complete the claim form for the electoral register in their own handwriting if the registrar required and to write from dictation 50 words in the English language In addition voters had to meet one of three criteria for their financial means either occupy property worth 150 in their Electoral District or own a registered mining claim within the colony for which residence was not required or receive annual salary of 100 in the colony The Letters Patent created a legislative assembly with 30 members and for simplicity the 15 electoral districts set the previous year for the Legislative Council were used for the new assembly but with each district returning two members Voters were therefore entitled to two votes Political parties EditSince the previous election and the grant of responsible government the Responsible Government Association had organised itself under the leadership of Sir Charles Coghlan into the Rhodesia Party and been appointed as the new government In addition the Rhodesia Labour Party which had been formed some years before entered into the election However a substantial number of candidates fought as Independents on their own record In general these candidates represented small farmers small businesses and mining interests Campaign EditThe Labour Party had supported the Responsible Government Association in its campaign for a separate government for the colony and in opposition to union with South Africa and members of both parties hoped to reach agreement on an allocation of seats between them so that they did not oppose each other Negotiations were unsuccessful and where candidates of the parties were fighting for seats the fight between them became bitter The independent candidates were also in opposition to the establishment party and many stressed the need for a strong opposition in the new Assembly Results EditPartyVotes SeatsRhodesia Party13 98758 3326Rhodesia Labour Party3 52714 710Independents6 46626 964Total23 980100 0030Valid votes11 99098 46Invalid blank votes1871 54Total votes12 177100 00Registered voters turnout20 06060 70Source WillsonBy constituency Edit ConstituencyElectorate and turnout Candidate Party VotesBULAWAYO CENTRAL1 493 54 8 Francis Leslie Hadfield RP 420James Cowden RP 397Septimus Leonard John Steggall Lab 249Harry Joseph Sonnenberg Ind 217William George Durbin Morsman Lab 194Frederick Fisher Ind 159BULAWAYO DISTRICT1 253 62 3 Frederic Philip Mennell RP 499Alexander Robert Thomson RP 492Harry Herbert Davies Lab 335George Walter Price Lab 234BULAWAYO NORTH1 490 62 9 Sir Charles Patrick John Coghlan RP 830Robert James Hudson RP 771William Davies Lab 274BULAWAYO SOUTH1 486 69 0 Charles Folliot Birney RP 631Henry Robert Barbour RP 469Lawrence John Walter Keller Lab 408George Mitchell Ind 303Robert John Dent Lab 241EASTERN1 617 64 2 Charles Edward Gilfillan Ind 590John Louis Martin Ind 576Lewis Aloys MacDonald Hastings RP 552William Matthias Longden RP 359GWELO1 456 66 0 David Campbell Duncan Munro RP 572Max Danziger RP 527John Charles Jesser Coope Ind 401James Henry Edwards Ind 257James White Ross Lab 165HARTLEY1 519 58 2 Sir Ernest William Sanders Montagu Ind 426Osmond Charteris Du Port RP 422Richard Wright Albertson Ind 379Burton Ireland Collings RP 275Robert Hawker Futter Ind 267MAZOE1 351 50 4 Sir Francis James Newton RP 624John Wallace Downie RP 579William Martin Lab 159MIDLANDS1 321 70 6 Robert Dunipace Gilchrist RP 415 William James Boggie RP 307John Austen Ind 307Henry Tyndall Brett Ind 260William Harrison Lab 184Miss Ellen Constance Steedman Ind 150 Walter Douglas Douglas Jones Ind 130George Alexander Campbell Lab 111NORTHERN1 387 54 7 William Muter Leggate RP 612James Murdoch Eaton RP 608 John McChlery Ind 296SALISBURY NORTH1 876 Percival Donald Leslie Fynn RP unopposedGodfrey Martin Huggins RP unopposedSALISBURY SOUTH1 454 58 1 Harry Bertin RP 595George Frederick Elcombe RP 433Milton Evan Cleveland Ind 329George Harold Johnson Ind 208Albert Edward Wetherill Lab 125UMTALI1 598 60 1 Charles Eickhoff RP 506 Mrs Ethel Tawse Jollie RP 404William Robb Love Lab 378James Allin Methuen Lab 299Francis Rudolph Myburgh Ind 206Thomas Benjamin Hulley Ind 130VICTORIA1 353 52 0 Howard Unwin Moffat RP 539Lucius Knapp Robinson RP 469John Albert Halliday Ind 399WESTERN1 282 51 8 Robert Alexander Fletcher Ind 476John Parke Richardson RP 375William Elliot Thomas RP 306William Edward Green Lab 171Note As the Midlands result was a tie between Boggie and Austen the election was determined by a drawing of lots which was supervised by a Judge of the High Court on 15 May 1924 Changes during the Assembly EditMazoe Edit Sir Francis Newton resigned on 26 August 1924 on appointment as High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Southern Rhodesia precipitating a byelection in his electoral district which was held on 26 September 1924 ConstituencyElectorate and turnout Candidate Party VotesMAZOE1 351 53 6 Percy Sidney Inskipp RP 394John William Dunlop Ind RP 330Salisbury South Edit George Elcombe resigned his seat on 10 January 1927 and a byelection was held on 8 March 1927 ConstituencyElectorate and turnout Candidate Party VotesSALISBURY SOUTH1 454 64 9 Frank William Frederick Johnson Ind 406John William Dunlop Lab 362Burton Ireland Collings RP 175Bulawayo North Edit Sir Charles Coghlan died on 28 August 1927 and a byelection was held on 18 November 1927 Constituency Candidate Party VotesBULAWAYO NORTH Allan Ross Welsh RP 549Edward Jonathan Davies Lab 377Midlands Edit William James Boggie died on 8 February 1928 and a byelection was held on 18 April 1928 ConstituencyElectorate and turnout Candidate Party VotesMIDLANDS1 374 47 5 Arthur James Taylor RP 352Alexander Louis Wynand Koch Worsthorne PP 301Defections Edit There were a number of changes within the assembly Robert Dunipace Gilchrist crossed the floor to sit as an opposition Independent in 1925 He was followed in May 1927 by Francis Leslie Hadfield and Max Danziger In June 1927 the Progressive Party was formed by Harry Bertin Robert Alexander Fletcher Robert Dunipace Gilchrist George Edward Gilfillan Francis Leslie Hadfield Frank William Frederick Johnson John Louis Martin Frederic Philip Mennell and Sir Ernest William Sanders Montagu This party campaigned for a pro white immigration policy the development of Matabeleland and establishing African reserves It was opposed to monopolies and sought reform and depoliticisation of the Civil Service References EditSource Book of Parliamentary Elections and Referenda in Southern Rhodesia 1898 1962 ed by F M G Willson Department of Government University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Salisbury 1963 Holders of Administrative and Ministerial Office 1894 1964 by F M G Willson and G C Passmore assisted by Margaret T Mitchell Source Book No 3 Department of Government University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Salisbury 1966 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1924 Southern Rhodesian general election amp oldid 1174010691, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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