RAND REVOLT SENTENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18272, 13 December 1922, Page 9

RAND REVOLT SENTENCES.

AGITATION FOR CLEMENCY.

TRADES UNIONS' APPEAL.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 4.5 p.m.) CAPETOWN. Dec. 11

Agitation in Johannesburg against the death sentences passed on participants in tho Rand revolt, who were found guilty of murder, is growing. A meeting of associated trades unions decided to call a meeting of union executives, members of the House of Assembly, ministers of religion and other pubhc men, with a view to considering what steps should bo taken to influence the policy of the-Gov-ernment in the direction of initiating prosecutions arising out of the revolt 'on something less than capital ch.irges, and in cases of conviction foe capital offences, more frequent exeivir.e of the prerogative of mercy. A resolution was passed declaring that tho sentences for crimes during the strike were not justifiable, but were reprisals, and calling upon lovers of justice the world over to exerc.se all possible pressure to yop the policy, of reprisals. All trades unions ucre uigec! to agree to a one-day f strike on a given date.

A meeting at Benoni passed a resolution that a cablegram should bo sent to the British Prime Minister to intercede for the condemned men, and that a deputation should be sent to General Smuts and the Governor-General.