LABOUR IN THE RAND MINES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 136, 9 June 1906, Page 9

LABOUR IN THE RAND MINES.

TO THK EDITOR. Sir, — In reading your paper a few days ago I saw an interview with a certain gentleman lately returned from South, Africa. As a resident of some years' standing in that unfortunate country I cannot allow some of the remarks made to pass unchallenged. TBis gentleman may have taken some interest in Transyaal affairs, but was certainly most unfortunate in hio teachers. Any South 'African could easily imagine the sort of politics which would be imbibed by a pupil of Mr. Merriman and other members of the Bond Party. This party is predominant in the Cape Colony, and its hostility to all Imperialist ideals is scarcely veiled. But the point on which, your informant goes astray so hopelessly is that of the labour supply for the Transvaal mines. I have found that there is also a, 'very general misconception, of these matters among New Zealanders. I hold no brief for the "Randlords," but I do not hesitate to say that the importation of Chinese miners is at present essential to the Transvaal. It is perfect nonsense to talk about Chinese taking the place of Europeans ; thisi can be shown iv a very few words thus — • the cost of living in Johannesburg is so high that no married man can possibly exist on less than £20 per mensem (this makes no allowance for any family). Tho causes of this abnormal cost do not concern us here, but if necessary I can easily produce figures in support of my assertion. A certain number, of single men might be found willing to work iv the mines at a wage of, say, £15 per month (this I doubt). Now, Chinese are paid under £4, and with their keep cost roughly- about £6 per head per mensem. When' you remember that ,the Transvaal mines are all of low grade (a return of 12dwt per ton is considered very good), it will not be difficult' to understand that if white men were to be substituted for Chinese "and Kaffirs, thus multiplying the wages bill by 2£, these mines would have to be shut down, as they could not possibly be worked at a profit ; on the contrary, the monthly, returns .would show a heavy loss. I assert, without fear of authentic contradiction, that not a single white . man has ever been displaced by any Chinaman, and, further, that any reduction in the number of Chinese employed means a proportionate reduction of white employees. I do not intend to enter upon the question of native labour, suffice it to say that it is totally inadequate to the needs of the community independent of the mines. In conclusion, I may say that my only reason for writing this letter is a wish to put matters in their true light before the people of New Zealand— a dislike of palpable misstatements made because contradiction, ia unlikely. — I am, etc., rrr „ DOPPER, Wellington, Bth June.