SERIOUS POSITION
ON NAMAQUALAND DIAMOND FIELDS DUE TO PROHIBITION OF PROSPECTING THREAT TO RUSH STATE DIGGINGS (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Service.) (Rec. December 27, 11.45 p.m.) Cape Town, December 26. There is a serious position on the Namaqualand diamond fields, in consequence of the Government’s prohibition of prospecting.
Recently the Government yielded to political pressure, owing to the disastrous effects of the drought. The prohibition applied only to areas abutting on the coast. The discriminatory decisions of officials accentuated the complaints. While the permit was granted to prospect a farm only three miles inland, the diggers vigorously protested and talked of rushing the State diggings at Alexander Bay. They demanded the release of men who disagreed with the prohibition, and notified the Magistrate at Port Nolloth that they would start prospecting to-day in Buchuberg, which has proved diamondiferous.
The Government dispatched twentyfour selected police with machine-guns on motor-lorries on Monday night. They are expected to reach their destination, over 400 miles, mainly of desert, to-day. A warning has been issued that they will not tolerate lawlessness.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 80, 28 December 1928, Page 9
Word Count
178SERIOUS POSITION Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 80, 28 December 1928, Page 9
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