SEGREGATION IN DRY-CLEANING

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29264, 23 July 1960, Page 10

SEGREGATION IN DRY-CLEANING

Proposed Law In The Transvaal {From a Reuter Correspondent) PRETORIA, June 13. One of the most controversial draft ordinances ever to be discussed by the Transvaal Provincial Council in Pretoria is one which would give local authorities the power to apply black-white segregation to all the dry-clean-ing firms under their jurisdiction. If passed, this ordinance will compel dry-cleaning firms to decide whether they are going to dry-clean the clothing of whites or non-whites. They will not be allowed to cater for both whites and blacks. One man, who has been in the dry-cleaning business for 15 years, said: "I will have to close down if I want to stay out of trouble." He then went on to explain that most of the garments brought to his factory are brought by his African employees, who go from door to door asking for dry-clean-ing. “They get a commission for all work that they bring in. How will I know whether the clothing brought in by them belongs to an African, or not?” he asked. Another manager expressed his fears about being compelled to shut down. “Things are difficult enough without being told by the authorities whose clothing you are allowed to clean,” he said.