ON THE RAND

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 54, 6 March 1922, Page 7

ON THE RAND

IMPROVEMENT NOTED

STRIKERS RETURNING TO WORK t

(«KIII» mil AHOCIATWN.-cmWMT.)

(PUILISHED IN THE TIMES.)

CAPETOWN, 3rd March.

Johannesburg reports that all is quiet to-day on the Band. An improvement is noted in the number returning to work. A movement is developing among the moderate section of strikers for find-, ing a basis for returning to work in an organised fashion, which is regarded^as the alternative to extremists getting control. An important conference has hesn. called by the federation of the various strike committees. It-, is understood that a. serious effort will be made to effect a settlement of the strike, to which end much pressure has been brought to bear on the executive. . "' (AWITRALIAN - NITT SIALAHB CAILK AISOCIATION.) CAPETOWN, 4tli March. The strike at. Johannesburg is reaching 'a. crisis. Over a thousand strikers have returned: to work. After an all-night sitting of the men's federation, it was decided to open fresh negotiations direct with the Chamber of Mines. The latter, however, declined the overtures, and announced that they" would not recognise the federation in future, but would recognise the men's own unions.- The. Chamber, expressed willingness to assist the workers to get rid of the Junta, whose ■ action , had brought them into their present position, also to safeguard them against vindictive action. At Vereerriging, the steel workers, by a large majority, decided to resume, thus preventing the loss of a big contract. Shotswere exchanged between strikers and police near the Deep City mine, but there were no casualties. The executive of the men's federation has decided to take a.ballot on the question of returning to work on the Chamber of Mines' terms pending the findings of a Parliamentary Commission.