EXPLOSIONS IN MINES

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6320, 24 February 1922, Page 5

EXPLOSIONS IN MINES

SOUTH AFRICAN STRIKERS’

REVENGE

MARTIAL LAW PROBABLE

(United Press Association—Copyright.) CAPETOWN, Feb. 22.

There were six dynamite explosions in Johannesburg last night. The electric stanaards were blown up and the power cut off at one mine. The police raided the strikers’ headquarters.

It is believed that the Government will be compelled to proclaim martial law.—A. and N.Z.C.A. CAPETOWN, Feb. 22.

The police have warned the rioters that commandos and other gatherings interfering with men wishing to return to work are unlawful assemblies, and will be dispersed by the police.. Tiie public have been requested to avoid the vicinity of such gatherings.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

COMPULSORY ARBITRATION TURNED DOWN

STATEMENT BY PREMIER

CAPETOWN, Feb. 22

The Industrial Federation now purpose a settlement of the strike by the appointment of a commission, on the lines of the San key Commission in Britain, to enquire into the conditions obtaining in the mining industry and the question of indentured labor, low grade mines to lieassisted by a fund cotributed to by the State ad employers and employees, a sliding scale of wages to be adopted. The general,opinion is that the proposals have come too late to affect the situation.

In rejecting General Hertzog’s motion to appoint a permanent body to decide industrial disputes, General Smuts, in the Assembly, said that the only countries where there was compulsory arbitration were Australia and Nejv Zealand, and in those countries the system was a ghastly failure. It was one of the devices which was wrecking the whole industrial system of those countries. There was no country in the world where strikes were more rife and the industrial position more unsound that in Australia. The debate on the Rand strike situation was adjourned after General Smuts had outlined a plan for the resumption of work, and the appointment of an impartial tribunal to report to Parliament.—A. and N.Z.C.A.