STRIKERS RETURNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15512, 20 January 1914, Page 7

STRIKERS RETURNING.

IMPROVEMENT IN AFRICA.

MORE MEN THAN NEEDED.

LITTLE ' CHANGE ON RAND.

STRICT PRESS CENSORSHIP,

BURGHERS ON COMMANDO.

HOLDING THEM READY.

By Telem'sph— Press Association— (Received January 19, 8.5 p.m.) Capetown, January 19. Practically the whole of the Transvaal, Orange Free State and Natal railwaymen have returned to work. There is little change in the position so far as the mines are concerned, but such change as there is indicates an improvement. On Sunday night, Williams, a Labour member of the Rand Municipality, was arrested. The town of Johannesburg and the Reefs are now quiet. The police are unarmed, but armed sentries remain at the railway stations, on the bridges, and other vital points. Meetings of the tailors', painters', and other unions are being allowed in the Trades Hall on a guarantee to the martial law authorities. Five Men Arrested. On Sunday night a leaflet entitled, "The Strike Herald" was circulated freely in Pretoria. Its contents were of such a nature that the police surrounded the printing offices, arrested and sent to prison five men, and took possession of the second number of the issue which was almost ready for printing. The railway staff at Pretoria has decided to resume work. A number of the engine-drivers and firemen immediately signed on to restart with the guards on Monday morning. The employees in the workshops have not yet decided, but it is expected that they will soon follow the example of the running staff.

An attempt was made on Saturday night to destroy the engine house at Vogelstruis Estate mine on the Rand. A cage containing a skipman was being lowered, when a package was thrown through the window of the engine house. The smell of a burning fuse , attracted the driver's: attention, and he stopped the engine, saving the skipman's life. *He rushed with the package to the door, and had barely time to throw it clear before an explosion occurred. The perpetrator made good his escape. The Railway Service. Mr. Hoy, general manager of the railways, states that more men ..are now offering than he requires. The resumption of the normal service early this week will, however, provide for a large number. A report from Kimberley of an attempt to wreck the main line apparently arose from the fact that a man was seen running off on the approach of the patrol. The line was not damaged in any wayThe Evening Chronicle (Johannesburg), a Labour paper, appeared on Saturday with the leader column blank except for the phrase: "The matter for this column has been censored." The official announcement has' been made that it is not the policy of the Government to arrest strikers as strikers. The wholesale arrests at Benoni were effected with a deliberate intention by the Government. Training in Control Areas, The burghers called out .for defence purposes will be held for service until a proclamation releases them. The units which have already undergone their annual continuous training will be the first released, but these are few in number. The remainder, as soon as the situation permits, will be concentrated in the control areas where they are now serving for the purpose of undergoing their continuous training. In connection with the general strike in the Orange Free State it is stated that apart from the railwaymen the only general striker was one compositor, who was out for one day. LABOUR PARTY PROTEST. " RUSSIANISING METHODS." London, January 19. The National Council of the Independent Labour Party has requested Mr. Keir Hardie (chairman) to forward to Mr. L. Harcourt (Colonial Secretary) a protest from the Labour Party of the Union of South Africa, denouncing the Union Government's " despotism, and the connivance of Viscount Gladstone (Governor-General) and the Colonial Office in arresting the strike leaders and suppressing the constitution by proclaiming martial law." The council expressed the hope that the workers would resist the " Russianising" of British institutions.