THE DEPORTATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16493, 7 March 1914, Page 11

THE DEPORTATIONS.

BOTHA GOVERNMENT RELENTLESS. BANISHMENT TO CONTINUE. INDEMNITY BILL PASSED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright CAPE TOWN, March 5. After a continuous twenty-four hours’ debate, it was decided to retain the deported men’s names in the banishment clause. Ministers were relentless on this point, and stolidly ignored the repeated requests to specify tho charges against the deported men. Mr Andrews, a Labour member, hinted at the possibility of the workers of Great Britain refusing to handle South African products. Tho Labour members vainly endeavoured to socuro tho deletion of tho word “undesirables” from tho short title of the Bill, contending that it classed the deported men as criminals. After a five hours’ debate, Mr Creswell’s motion to delete Dr Poutsma’s name and substitute General Botha’s was negatived by 64 to 13. Tho Indemnity Bill passed through committee and the House adjourned. COST OF LIVING ON THE RAND. RECOGNITION OF UNIONISTS. CAPE TOWN, March 5. The Economic Commission’s report finds that tho cost of living on tho Hand is 40 per cent higher than in America and 80 per cent higher than in Europe. The wages paid are 40 per cent higher than in America and 225 per cent higher than in Europe; but, as the minors labour under many disadvantages, their wages are not unreasonable. Competition between natives and Indians in the skilled trades is a negligible quantity. The report discountenances the Government decreasing the standard wage, and says that voluntary agreements between employers and workers aro more satisfactory. It is essential that the employers should recognise trade unions. Tho report recommends the protection of non-unionists, and states that white strikes have caused considerable unrest among the natives. Shorter hours are recommended, and higher pay for overtime. It ■ describes tho Federation of Trade Unions as tho second line of defence against industrial war, and urges the employers not to refuse to meet the Federation. Tho Commission was unable to conceive why the Federation officials were refused recognition as the men’s professional representatives. It considers the demand that the trade unions should forego political activities is outside the question of recognition, but any over-persuasion or recruiting for unions involving violence, or other illegal action, should be sternly repressed. MR MANN’S MISSION. CONDEMNED AS A FARCE. (Received March 7, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 6. The Labour newspapers describe the proposal to send Mr Tom Mann to South Africa as a farce. The “ Labour Leader ” says that be is the last man who should go there at this juncture. COURTESIES EXCHANGED. MINISTER AND LABOUR MEMBER. (Received March 7, 12.0 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, March 6. General Smuts sat as silent as a sphinx for twenty-two hours under tho Labour attack. At the conclusion of the stonewall General Smuts and Mr Creswell exchanged courtesies.