RANDT MINING UNDER NEW NEW CONDITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1900, Page 3

RANDT MINING UNDER NEW NEW CONDITIONS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—We may take it for granted tnati before six months have passed British rule will be established from Zambesi to, the sea. Therefore, permit? me'-to . point, out what effect a British supremacy will have upon the mining industry, of the Randt. ■

Taken broadly, the new rule will certainly be productive of immense benefit' and a greatly increased output of gold* As the question of dividends is of most. interest to the British speculator, let us consider how this very important item, will be affected.

During the year IS9S-99 the dividend* from the Randt section of mines totalled close on £4,000,000, and this in spite of the various outrageous Boer imposts • placed on the industry of .mining-. Last, year 10.000 white miners and 70,000 black labourers were employed on the mines, and as the Kaffirs, 'were paid two .shillings (2/); per diem the bigger labour bill totted up/ some £2,520,000. per annum. . / ; ,~,. .;-

I think we may take it for granted that within two years after the British occupation a great cry will be raised for South African confederation, which will mean practically self-government, or ; the rule of the people. During the next two years an immense immigration to South Africa will take place, to say nothing: of.. the. 30,000 time-expired soldiers and others of the colonial contingents who will find inducement to settle in that land of much promise. Now, it is evident that every;individual who goes to South Africa cannot become a boss of native labour, but; will have to seek for himself that work by 'which he was accustomed to gain a livelihood in the country whence he came. The honest working man will find, .the Kaffir in his path. From looking- after,; the baby to laying bricks; from concocting a savoury stew to working under-ground—-in puris naturalibus—at a depth! of 5000 feet, the Zulu boy is an adept-* hard-working, good-natured, sweet-tem-pered, and naturally free from vice 'except when brought up under the influences of civilising Christianity or missionafie.3 and the gin bottle. ' .• !'''''-.'■"'..

That the Britisher will kick against cheap Kaffir, labour goes •without'saying; then the real trouble will begin. After, we have successfully besieged, assaulted, and occupied Pretoria, deported P.K. and Steyn, and, if we can catch him,. hanged Dr. Leyds, there 'will occur a boom in "Kaffirs" such as will make pur Queen-' stveet brokers flog themselves with envy; and despair. The English public/ Who can never see ahead, will rush in, ilia' financiers and the swindlecates will Unload, and the mines during 1902-1903 wilj produce £20,000,0.00 worth of gold. ''.. . „•;■ , And those dividends! Well, we can( hardly presume that low grade proposi* tions can continue to show a 25 per cent*, profit and at the same time-pay; white labour 7/ a day. ....;. .:, '

In the bad old times under P. K. arid black workmen the underground account ■was only £2,500,000; by 1903 it' will have ; risen to £7,000,000, and this vast sum wilt not only swamp up the advantages-of. cheap explosives, but will entirely absorb: the £4,000,000 profit that was preyiouslyi paid to the insatiable capitalist; but then the financier will be out,, and the- public) will1 be in, so it will really not matter, and as all the more money will of neces-; sity be circulating in Johannesburg, we,, being- there, shall feel very content.—l am, etc., H.JOHNSON, • ■■■'; Captain late 80th Regiment^ Grafton Road, Feb. 16, 1900. , &