HERTZOG’S DISPUTE WITH SON

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 May 1937, Page 10

HERTZOG’S DISPUTE WITH SON

QUARREL OVER MINERS' UNION

CAPE TOWN, April 9

The existence of a political dispute between Gen. Hertzog, Prime Minister of South Africa, and his son, Dr. Albert Hertzog, was revealed in the Union Parliament to-day during a stormy debate. The debate arose out of a proposal to reduce the Prime Minister’s salary by £5OO in consequence of a statement by the Transvaal Chamber of Mines.

The Chamber of Mines, in an attempt to ensure a long period of peace in the minefields, issued a statement that from June 1 the mines will enforce the “closed shop” principle. No worker will be allorved to be a member of any trade union other than the recognised one. The recognised union will be the South African Mine Workers’ Union. The decision is a blow at the rival organisations, the Afrikaner Mynwerkersbond. In the debate in Parliament Dr. Van der Merwe, Deputy-Leader of the Nationalists, accused Gen. Hertzog, as owner of a. Transvaal Afrikaans newspaper, of forcing his son to resign a. directorship on the newspaper because Dr. Hertzog was the organiser of the Mynwerkersboud. Gen. Hertzog replied very vigorously, 'denying that lie was against the union. He explained that he had refused his son money to start the. union, and said he had asked his son Io resign the newspaper directorship, not because he had organised the union, but because he had made a speech against the Government, which was improper for the director of anj organ supporting the Government. I

Mr. C. R. Swart (Nationalist) told Parliament that he had received an urgent telegram from Gen. Hertzog's son saying; "’The Union members, who are three-quarters Afrikanders, are at present handed over to Jewish Communists.”

The recognised union, the South African Mine Workers' Union, has endorsed the Chamber's statement, and to-day advised the men on strike at the Simmer and Jack gold-mine to return to work. The strike began as a protest against attempts to form a purely Afrikaans union in the minefields.

The whole of the Jcppc branch of the National Party, one of the strongest branches in the Rand, has resigned. The members alleged that the Nationalist Party was behind the. activities of the Mynwerkersboud. which they describe as a dangerous organisation which is threatening the solidarity of the workers.—B.U.P.