MINERS ON THE RAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 78, 28 September 1907, Page 13

MINERS ON THE RAND.

BEQUEST FOB REPATRIATION. PROTEST AGAINST DIAMOND GIFT. A mass mooting of unemployed miners was held at Gcrraiston (says the Johannesburg Star) on the 20th ult. The .following resolution was cariicd unanimously : — "That this meeting of the mineis of the Germiston district wish to draw tho serious attention of His Majesty's Government to the present deplorable state of affairs on the Rand ; that largo numbers of industrious and respectable mim-rs are penniless, and on tho border of starvation ; that this country, abovo all othois in the mining world, has resources far more than sufficient to. meet tho present need of employment by its rallying population; that tho present^distress >has befn brought about aitifieially by moneyed rr.ino magnates for the benefit of people whose interests do not lie in this country ; and that wo, call on Bis Majesty's Government to at once provide us with a means of living other than charitable bequests or donations, failing which, we ask that we shall at oaco be lonatriated to where we can livo tho life. of free British subjects." Mr. Crowle. who seconded the resolu- i tion, f-poko with considerable incline; concerning the attitude of rho Transvaal wovcrnment. It had, ha said, psomibed everything but rfone nothing. (Applause.) During one interview he had been as close to Gcncivl Koth.i as Le %\as then to the rhairman of tho meeting. (A Voice: "Why did yon not hit him? ') (Laughter.) The iiii.u who relied upon the Dutch assisting•i Ju'ilishei. was an idiot, but, if the Dutch oniy realised it, by playing the game to Labour they coujd secure everything their own way. (Applause.) ~Mr. Moiwhan proposed, and Mr. Kelly seconded, and it was unanimously agreed to :— "Thit this meeting rogrets tho mop- j portune tmiy the Transvaal (iovornrnent has chosen to pay a compliment to tho person of our Most Gracious tfoveieign, King Edward VII.. toeing that the staple industrial support of this colony has been manipulated by the mineowners so as to seriously endanger the .existence of tho wealth producers of tho Rand. We hereby wish to place on record our protest, and wo ask tho aid 'of 1 the Labour meir.bcis, and trades unionists generally to- bring our pictest before the Biitish Parliament and people." The following resolution, 'proposed by Mr. E. Mcoic and second by Mr. Lawrenson, was also agreed to unanimously : "That^ this meeting of unemployed miners forms a committee to cable to'th various colonies dejiring immigrants an<i ' to ascertain if such CJovorninenis, aie willing to assist the men by paying their passage money, which, in' the' event of omployment- being found, the men are vnlhng to refund within. ,a reasonable time." The committee suggested in the last resolution was then formed and tho proceedings terminated.