Elections for the Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope were held in Cape Colony in 1908. The South African party led by John X. Merriman defeated the governing Progressive Party under Leander Starr Jameson.[1] These elections would be the last for the Cape Colony, with the National Convention that agreed the constitutional framework for the Union of South Africa beginning later that year.
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All 107 seats in the House of Assembly 54 seats needed for a majority All 26 seats in the Legislative Council 14 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||
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 Blue - South African Party Green - Progressive Party | ||||||||||||||||
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Elections for the Legislative Council were held on 21 January, except for Eastern Province where the election was delayed until 21 February due to the death of a candidate. On 31 January Jameson resigned as Premier after it became clear that the Progressives had lost their majority in the council, which would make governing difficult - even if they could win a majority in the Assembly elections later that year. Merriman was appointed Premier on 3 February, ahead of both the Council election for Eastern Province and the Assembly elections.[2]
Results
editLegislative Council
edit| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| South African Party | 17 | |
| Progressive Party | 8 | |
| Independents | 1 | |
| Total | 26 | |
| Source: Smith, pg.69 | ||
Legislative Assembly
edit| Party | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|
| South African Party | 69 | +27 | |
| Progressive Party | 33 | –17 | |
| Independents | 5 | +5 | |
| Total | 107 | +12 | |
| Source: Smith pg.72 | |||
References
edit- ^ John Charrington Smith, Alan (1980). General Elections in the Cape Colony: 1898-1908 (PDF). University of Cape Town.
- ^ Smith, pg.69-70