LAW AND ORDER PREVAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15513, 21 January 1914, Page 9

LAW AND ORDER PREVAIL.

AFRICAN STRIKE BROKEN

COST OF THE DISORDER.

BURGHERS SATISFIED,

MOBILISATION SUCCESS.

A BILL OF INDEMNITY. I I LABOUR HEADS ARRESTED. By Telegraph— Press Association— (Received January 20, 6 p.m.) Capetown, January 20. The present position is that the railway strike is practically ended, except at the Pretoria workshops and to a limited extent at Durban, neither, however, interfering with the restoration of a normal train service. All the burghers and regiments arc demobilising excepting in the Rand, Pretoria, and Fauresmith districts. This means that 30,000 men will still be left behind. General Beyers, the commandant of the Defence Force, addressing the burghers yesterday, explained that they had not been called out during the July strike because the force was then only four days old, and needed time for organisation. He believed that such a mobilisation could not have been carried out better in any other part of the world. Within three days the men had joined from the farthest point, as if they wished to show they could manage their own affairs without the help of the Imperial troops. Tampering With Railway. A guard patrolling the Trans-vaal-Natal border yesterday arrested a man for tampering with the line. He fired at three others who, however, escapedTwo hundred railwaymen have signed on at Germiston, and a large number at Braamfontein will resume to-day. Everything is quiet at Bcnoni. The Federation of Building Trades at Pretoria refused to return to work yesterday morning, and the police in the afternoon arrested the acting-secretary. At a meeting of the Durban strikers yesterday the speakers urged continued solidarity- The proceedings will not affect the general situation. The mining strike is coming to an end. There is a complete absence of the disturbing factors which made the July strike so grave. Taken all in all, the outlook is more hopeful than for some time. The strikers at the Vogelstruis mine have been ordered to quit their occupation of the living quarters en the mine property. Praised for Loyalty. In the Cape province the railwaymen, whose attitude throughout was regarded as the key to the railway situation, have been warmly praised for their loyalty to the Administration, which had a %dtal bearing on the issue.

A number of employees in the Durban workshops are resuming. The resistance has practically collapsed. Messrs. Raiburn and Tilbury, two prominent local Labour leaders, have been arrested.

At the Pretoria workshops yesterday, a big crowd watched the men go back. There was no hostile demonstration.

The whole of the running staff at Pretoria signed on yesterday morning, and some have already resumed work. The Call to Arms. While the industrial difficulties are by no means over, indeed, the settlement has scarcely yet begun, the immediate prospect of red ruin and the breaking up of the law is past- The Government's call to arms was responded to by all elldisposed persons throughout the Union, irrespective of race, party or the considerations which ordinarily divide the people. The Indians, led by Dr. Gandhi. s*ood aloof, and the natives, obedient to the message from General Botha (Premier) remained quiet. The issue thus became a clear-cut one between constitutionalism on the one hand and anarchy on the other. Constitutionalism has prevailed at a cost which in the end may be anything from £250,000 to £500,000. The matter of cost depends on how long the active citizen forces remain on duty. Forces Held in Readiness. While the gradual demobilisation has already begun, it will not be unduly hastened, and it is noteworthy that the Government, even after the demobilisation, will retain in the control areas considerable forces, on the plea that the men, having got together, the present is a good opportunity for them to undergo their regulation training.

The attitude of the commandos is significant. They came out with alacrity, but let it be understood that they had had enough of industrial unrest and threats of social upheaval, and wanted this trouble settled once and for all. If a weak settlement were made, it is felt they would return to their homes disgusted, and would be slow to come out another time. They, however, seem satisfied with the Government's firmness and determination in dealing with the strike.

The heavy costs will be borne with fortitude if they represent the price of prolonged relief from the industrial paralysis which has been afflicting the country, more especially as they will also represent the price of what has proved to be the most gratifying experiment in the mobilisation of 80,000 men, the success of which surprised even the most enthusiastic believers in the Union's newly-born defence system. Bill of Indemnity. Parliament meets in the ordinary course of events on January 30. Al-

thpugh a postponement was anticipated, this now seems improbable. The Government will ask Parliament to pass a Bill of Indemnity for the measures taken during the crisis, and in the present temper of the community such a Bill is un. likely to encounter any serious opposition.

Apart from the Indemnity Bill, stringent industrial measures, providing for the governing of trades unions, the settlement of trades disputes, dealing with strikes, public meetings, and the maintenance of public order generally, will be proceeded with. The session promises to be a very heavy and interesting one.

Meanwhile the authorities are continuing to arrest the Labour leaders in different parts of the country, the most sensational being that of Mr. Cresswell, the Labour M.P. Mr. Andrews has also been arrested. With the exception of Messrs. Madely and Haggar (M.P-'s) and Mr. Mathews (general secrelary of the Miners' Association) at Johannesburg, practically none of the influential Labour leaders remain at large. "LEGAL METHODS BEST." LESSON OF TWO STRIKES. By Telegraph— Association— (Received January 20, 8.35 p.m.) Sydney, January 20. In a leader on the South African strike, j the Sun to-day says that the federation J section of Australian unionists has had two lessons (from South Africa and New Zealand) within a few months. In New Zealand the strike tried one of the most quiet and most peaceful communities with a Government which would use armed force only with the greatest reluctance. In South Africa the employers, the Government, and the public turned instinctively to rifles, bayonets, and guns. Both strikes failed. These examples should be a warning to workmen when rushing into a general strike that they are looking for defeat. Legal methods in the end prove j the best for the workman.