RAND MINING TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 180, 30 July 1913, Page 5

RAND MINING TROUBLE.

BIG STRUGGLE AHEAD. PUBLIC SYMPATHY ALIENATED PEARS OF THE NATIVES. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) JOHANNESBURG, July 28. All the leading business houses in Capetown arc organising their employees, who are being sworn in as special constables for service if necessary. The English aud Dutch farmers resent tbe dictatorial tone of the Labour leaders. The rejection of tbe mineowners' concessions is alienating public sympathy from the workers. The "Rand Mail" urges tbe Government and the mining industry to grant the. eight hours' day, inclusive of winding, and to withdraw tbe condition that union funds should not be used for political purposes. The "Transvaal Leadenr" urges the Government and the community not to allow themselves to be terrorised.

Thore is a great demand for food, and whole households are laying in large stocks. Otherwise, trade is stagnant. There is a growing impression that the strike commiteee will defer final action until the bar±k holiday on August 4. The bulk of the monthly wages is due. on August 3, and this will be jeopardised if the strike is made earlier. The leaders threaten to organise a strike on so-called scientific lines, by causing damage aud creating disturbances wherever the police arc absent, hoping thus to terrorise the Government into, submission. The Government's chief aiuxiety is connected with the natives. Much seditious literature in the native dialects is circulating in the mines. Thirty thousaud natives have been lost in Juno and .lulv owing to the stoppage of recruiting. This is threatening to throw many of the whites out of employment. The Govrrnmciit mining authorities I have completed their plans to repatriate ! conipiilsorily a qua-rtor of a million na- j tivrs in the event of a crisis, despite the fart that it will take a year to restore labour conditions. It has been arranged! thai the natives will be divided into parties of 1.000 each, and lists arc beiDp prepared of experienced men. speaking the native language and willing to command the parties. Haversacks are being I pot ready to enable each native to carry I enough food to take him from depot to depot.