THE AFRICAN LABOUR UPHEAVAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 January 1914, Page 5

THE AFRICAN LABOUR UPHEAVAL

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A DRASTIC MEASURE. PROMINENT LEADERS DEPORTED. "LABOUR AGHAST." [PIB PBES3 ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] CAPETOWN, January 28. General Botha has deported Mason, Crawford, Waterton and Kendall, prominent Socialists, and Cocke rail, Livingstone and Morgan. They were taken with the greatest .secrecy by a strong escort through Natal and put aboard a steamer, which was ordered to sail before dawn.

The deportation was via Natal, because martial Jaw continues there.

Parliament will grant an indemnity next week for the abolition of other acts under martial law. Measures will also lie taken to prevent the return of those deported: Justice Wessels, sitting at Johannesburg, declined to grant an order restraining the Government from deporting the men on the ground that h<' had insufficient evidence. Counsel will apply to the full Supreme Court to-day. The Government is acting under Clause 22 of the Immigration Regulation Act 1913. / LONDON, January 2G. The "Daily News" states that the South African deportations are a plain declaration of war on all the labour organisations. It proclaims that a workman, in attempting an improvement of his economic position, puts himself outside the shelter of the law. The workers bred in British traditions cannot sit tamely under eucli a system. The "Daily Chronicle" says that the deportations are a grievous blunder. For every man deported a dozen will arise. General Botha is affronting Liberal opinion throughout the world. Labour will he aghast at the spectacle of good men and true doing what win wolf ii%* the dirty \York of the remorseless pitiles.s capitalists of the Rand. The "Standard" says tfiat reasonaft*s people will not raise objections to tf>o deportations except km ithe score that those deported are not particularly wanted in Great Britain. JOHANNESBURG, January 23. Genera] Smuts, reviewing the Civilian Defence Force of 2000 special constables, said that the July outbreak had been a severe lesson of what anarchy meant. The citizens were determined that there would be no repetition of lawlessness. As a result there had been perfect order, without the shedding of a drop of blood.

Benoni is the only place 1 where martial law lias not been relaxed.

Strikers are largely applying for permits to leave the country. Many Ans tralians are among the strikers. The position elsewhere is normal.

DEPORTATIONS ILLEGAL.

JUDGE'S IMPORTANT COMMENT

Received this day at 8.30 a.in LONDON, January 28. Mr. Keir Bardie., speaking at Glasgow, pointed out that the act of indemnity required the King's signature, Lord Gladstone could refuse to sign until the Act was sent Home for consideration. Mr. Brownlie (Chairman of the Amalgamate dEnginecrs) announced that all officials in South Africa had been arrested and their.books and fluids confiscated. They were unable to cable funds to South Africa for fear of confiscation. Mr. Harcourt refused to receive a deputation, saying that the matter was solely within the competence of the Union Government, but promised to obtain particulars from Lord Gladstone. DuRBAiS January 28. Ten deported leaders were railed aboard the Unigen.i' at midnight. PRETORIA, January 28When application for restraint was renewed in the Supreme Court, the departure of the deported leaders was announced. 'The Court allowed the deported*' counsel to apply for an attachment of the officials concerned for contempt. Justice Wessells said lie legretted that he had insufficient information on Tuesday or lie would have granted an order restraining the Government from deporting the strike leaders. If the Government chose to use force and commit an.illegal act, no court could stop it. The Government was acting invalidly if it locked up men and refused their rights as citizens to appeal, but the Government's use of force was a matter for which it was responsible to the citizens.