SOUTH AFRICAN STRIKE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 633, 10 January 1914, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICAN STRIKE.

RAILWAYMEN OUT,

Pretoria, Wednesday. The South African Government haß refused to withdraw the orders for the retrenchment in the railway service. The railwaymen at a mass meeting declared in favour of a strike through the Union, commencing on Thursday. Other branches of organised labour are being asked to support the railwaymen. Notices have been posted throughout the Tranavaal railways ordering the men to strike at midnight. A special meeting of the Cabinet was held to discuss the situation, and afterwards Messrs Smith, Malan, and Truter left for Johannesburg. Extens ve precautions are being taken to preserve order. At Capetown the citizens are forming a Committee of Public Safety to prevent disorder in the Cape Colony if the railway Btrike spreads. The authoiities have called for men willing to volunteer as special constables. Many are being sworn in. Th'e federation of Trades threatens a glneral strike if no settlement become to by Saturday. Capetown, Wednesday. The Premier declared yesterday that a Bill would be introduced next session to prevent strikers interfering with free workers. 5 Referring to the Indian strike, he said that every white South African was of the same opinion on the subject, and that was that the. Government could not give in or allow outside interference of eny kind. The Transvaal Miners' Association has issued a statement that they refuse to admit coloured miners, despite the Labour party conference's decision to enrol them in the party organisation.