12 APRIL 1924, Page 9

A dramatic sequel to the South African Government's defeat in

the Wakkerstroom by-election was the announce- ment by General Smuts on Monday in the Union House of Assembly of the immediate dissolution of Parliament —a decision which has taken the Nationalist and Labour Parties as well as the general public entirely by surprise. As the election will probably take place in June, the visit of the Prince of Wales to South Africa has been postponed. The general expectation had been that the Government would remain in office until the autumn of next year.