LABOUR IN TRANSVAAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17979, 3 January 1922, Page 5

LABOUR IN TRANSVAAL.

FEARS OF AN UPHEAVAL. THE COALMINERS RESTIVE. Renter. CAPETOWN, Dec. 30. The labour tituation in the Transvaal has recently engaged much attention in view of high working costs and the diminishing value of gold. The mineis are therefore seeking to reorganise their forces by greater utilisation of native or coloured labour, especially in the semi skilled occupations, a policy to which Labour and the trade unions are consistently opposed. The white miners at Weabank collieries, on which the Rand industry is largely dependent, have voted against the acceptance of a reduction of wages from January 1, which would place them on the level as the goldminers. There will bo a further conference on January 4 between the Chamber of Mines and the Miners' Union regarding the former's demand for readjustment on the above-mentioned lines. This will probably be abortive, and it seems almost certain that after the conference, probably at the end of next week, the issue will be joined in a great struggle involving the wboio labour situation. There is no indication of either side yielding, and once the struggle begins there is every sign that it will be a fight to a finish. The Government is active already, and it is expected that tho Cabinet will bo summoned to meet in Pretoria in '..he middle of next week.