MORE HOPEFUL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 181, 31 July 1913, Page 5

MORE HOPEFUL.

! SITUATION IN THE RAND. THE GOVERNMENT'S TERMS. NOT WHOLLY REJECTED. (By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyright.). (Received 10.10 ajn.) LONDON, July 30. The situation in the Kand is more hopeful to-day as a result of the firmness displayed by the Government. The secretary of the Labour Federation writes that the Government's proposals have not been wholly rejected. Mr Conncrty (President of the Railwayman's Society) has accepted the Government's invitation of a joint commission to investigate labour grievances. His acceptance indicates a spiit between a section of the railwnymcn and the Trades Federation. The law officers are considering the Federation's manifestoes threatening to treat special constables as "scabs" and calling on unionists to resign from the citizen forces. ARMING THE TRAINS. The Government that a large proportion of the railway .i.en will j join the strike, particularly from the workshops. It has been arranged that each train shall carry armed xoen, and be preceded by a pilot engine from fear of dynamite. All the vulnerable points along the railway route are strongly guarded. Martial law will be proclaimed directly a strike is declared. The Rand has bee?, divided into zones patrolled by commandoes of burghers, who will prevent large bodies of the strikers from assembling simultaneously. NATIVES SENT AWAY. All th" natives have been marched into tbeir own territories under armed convoys.. The Government feels that this step is essential, otherwise tho natives would constitute a menace to the women and children. The Government is considering a scheme whereby the rail way men will | forthwith he asked to sign on for two j years' service, accepting liie Umernment's ; recent oiler as the basis of a settlement : of their grievances. Those refusing to! sign will he asked to resign. It is ealcu- : lata! that at least 70 per cent of the men ' will agree. The Lnhour leaders emphasise that the| railwaynion will join tho miners in pre- ] senting a united front to th" Government. I