Brighter Outlook in South Africa

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLII, Issue 6064, 19 January 1914, Page 5

Brighter Outlook in South Africa

MEN RETURNING TO WORK

Hundreds of Strikers arrested at Benoiii. Authorities determined to restore law and order, and will act severely when necessary.

UNION GOVERNMENT DENOUNCED

Mayor of Pretoria Amongst Men Arrested at Strike Headquarters. No Relaxation, of Martial Law till Order Restored and Conditions Normr.l.

ENGLISH NEWSPAPER CRITICISM

The colliery strike in .Northern Natal is apparently ending, as the

llec Jan 10, 8.30 a.m. Capetown, Jan iG The Mayor of Pretoria, who was amongst the twenty arrested at the strike headquarters, has been released j ou his own recognisance The authorities at Pretoria int'orm Reuters correspondent that in consequence of the events at JJenoni some hundreds of strikers were ar- < rested yesterday. This drastic action has been necessitated by the extremes to which strikers went in July last, and that uu the present occasion they arc the only bodies of miners to go on strike wholesale ; also, because of their interference with the police, authorities It is hoped that similar drastic action will not bo necessary in ether parts of the reel but in view of the strike being a breach of the law and of the firm determination of the authorities to restore law and order, they will not hesitate to act with equal severity whenever the necessity arises ; lieports from llcuters correspond- : euts in all parts of the T_7l:ion show that calm prevails everywhere. The men in various strike areas are returning to woik, and the day is other- J wise passing uneventfully I At Johannesburg the police raided the Labour Party's headquarters, ' where a meeting of delegates of the Typographical Union was being held. It is believed that the meeting decided to return to work and had just ( finished when the police appeared. ' They arrested all tiie delegates, numbering sixty-live, for contravention of the martial law regulations by holding a meeting without the permission of ( the authorities ' Hoe Ja.ii 17, 5.5 p.m. ' Capetown, Jan 10 3 It is understood that there will he no relaxation of the martial law restrictions or alterations of the military depositions until the strike has absolutely ended and normal conditions are restored The authorities are considering the . prosecution of forty-throe of the principal Salt Ttiver strikers under the llailway Service xVct One of the men arrested at ihe trades hall has been charged with attempted murder. He fired a shot [ during the detectives' raid lieports from Johannesburg indicate that there was very little, cessation of work at the mines today Official telegrams from the principal railway centres announce that the men arc reporting for duty in large numbers. All is quiet At" Pretoria the strikers are still out, and apparcutly firm, but it is reported that many are desirous of returning to work - ■ Mr Uoybell, Labour ' member for Durbau, and Mr Kenbridgc, Chairman of the Labour Party, have been arrested The Natal Trades Federation announces that the ballot has resulted in a majority in favour of a general strike, but the Federation has decided to defer action for the present General Smuts sent the thanks of the Government to the commandoes who were called out, particularly those who achieved such splendid teats of mobilisation in reaching the Hand in time to enable the Government, by using its own resources, to deal Urmly aud ell'ectiveJy with a national danger The Mayor of Pretoria, mentioned as having been arrested, had gone to the strike headquarters to discuss matters with a view to mediation. It was while so engaged that the police arrived on the scene, and he was arrested with the others, martial lawbeing no respector of persons London, Jan LS The National Council of the Hide-1 pendent Labour Party has requested Mr Kcii Hardie, M.P., to forward to Mr J.. V. Harcouit, Colonial Secretary, a protest by the South African Labour Party denouncing the Union j Government^ despotism, aud the. con- j nivauce of Viscount Gladstone, tho Governor-General, and the Colonial j Oniee, in arresting tho strike lenders, j suppressing the constitution, and pro-] Claiming martial law. Tim hop*- is j also expressed thai- won;rrs would vr- j sist tlic ru-sianising of JJriti.sir insti-; tutioiis STKIKKKS Ufc.Sf.7M ING WORK I Capetown, Jan l< Large numbers of strikers arc returning to* work throughout the country, especially at Braamfontein and nioeuifouteiu

stiiiKiing. He was thrice challenged NOTICE TO RAILSY'AYMEN Mr Burton, Minister of Railways, has issued a notice to railway men still on strike instructing those desirous of re-employment to apply to their respective centres, adding that | such men as are required will be provisionally engaged at their previous grade aud emolument, pending Parliamentary action Mr Hoy, General Manager of Rail- ' ways, lias telegraphed to the disaffected centres that it must be distinctly understood that re-employed strikers or their wives cannot be allowed to use opprobrious terms or intimidate the men who remained loyal. The penalty for doing so will be the men s dismissal. The reason for this instruction is that only ten per cent of the whole stall' struck Mr Cressweil, Labour M..lr\, lias been arrested Pretoria, Jau 17 The employees of the railway workshops are still out and express determination to remain firm. Only four applications for re-cmployment have been received I The Defence headquarters notifies i that burghers called out will be commanded to fill, the places of strikers as soon us the burghers are released from service with tho defenders NEWSPAPERS1 VIEWS i London, Jan 18 The Chronicle dealing with the situation in South Africa, says that violence breeds violence, and (General .Botha's Government will reap a bitter harvest unless it exhibits as much energy in securing redress for the workers* grievances as in arrest- j ing the leaders ; The Daily News expresses heart searching* respecting the use of martial law The Westminster Gazette says that a general strike is wholly difYere.it from a strike iu a particular industry. If an attempt is made to hold the community for ransom, the community is entitled to protect itself Most of the newspapers applaud the Governments firmness and are delighted nt its success Rec Jan 10, B.M a.m. Pretoria, Jan 18 It is oflieially intimated that it is not the policy of the Government to arrest strikers as strikers The wholesale arrests at Benoni were effected without any deliberate intention on the part of the Government Kimberley, Jan 18 The reported attempt to wreck tbe main line apparently arose from the fact that a man was seen miming away on the approach of the patrol. The line was not damaged. Johannesburg, Jan 18 Mr Hoy, General Manager of Railways, states that more men are nuw otiering than are required. The resumption of the normal service early this week provides, however, for a large number. Consequently the Administration presently will not be able to lind places for men ofVeri i»g

owners report tint iitty per cent; of the. miners are now working •Johannesburg, Jan 17

.Eniost I'rcseliil?1, a private in tiie Tran.svaal Scottish Regiment, has died in the hospital. It is understood that he was shot bv a picket of his own regiment through a mUundei-

At l.)urb;in, while the main bo'ly «'t strikers is al |ire<f.ut st;Mnliii;^ I"'"* there iti little <Juul»t that; tliu gem:n«l ■itrike wiJl be abamloueil'