TROUBLE FEARED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 66, 28 December 1928, Page 5

TROUBLE FEARED.

AFRICAN DIAMOND FIELDS. POLICE HASTENING TO SCENE. (United Press Association—Copyright) CAPE TOWN, December 27. There is a serious position on the Namaqualand diamond fields in consequence of the Government's recent prohibition of prospecting. The Government yielded to political pressure, owing to the disastrous effect of the drought. The prohibition applied only to areas abutting the coast. The discriminatory decisions of officials accentuated the complaints when a permit was granted to prospect a farm only three miles inland. The diggers vigorously protested and talked of rushing the State diggings at Alexander Bay. They demanded the release of men who had been locked up for disagreeing with the prohibition, and notified the Magistrate at Port Nolloth that they would start propecting to-day at Buchuberg, which has proved diamondiferous. The Government dispatched 24 selected police with machine-guns on motor-lorries on Monday night, and they are expected to reach their destination, after travelling over 400 miles, mainly of desert, to-day. ' A warning has been issued, that they will not tolerate lawlessness. —Australian Press Association.