AFRICAN DEPORTATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8650, 7 February 1914, Page 5

AFRICAN DEPORTATIONS

GENERAL SMUTS’S SPEECH “ANARCHY BECAME RAMPANT.” By Telegraph—Press Association—- Copyright CAPETOWN, February 6. Intense interest was evinced in General Smuts’s speech in the Union Parliament in defence of the Government s actions under martial law and iu support of tho Indemnity BillThe Minister for Defence drew a graphic picture of the “reign of terror” on the Rand, where “scabs had been subjected to grossest ■ brutality. The anarchy became so rampant that civilians did not dare to assist the authorities with information or evidence. It was with the prevous July’s experience that the Government acted in January. He ridiculed the Labour talk of constitutional methods after the July events had culminated in a situation which since then had necessitated the mobilisation of 100,000 men. The Labour movement was no ordinary strike, but a Syndicalist conspiracy of an advanced typo that rf had been foiled in July. Foutsma, Bain, and others of the deported men had determined, after July failure, on a new effort j Bain’s exhortation to the_ workers to come armed to the Benoni meeting at the end of June had revealed the true character of the Labour leaders’ intentions. “IN A TERRIBLE POSITION.” But for the Imperial troops in July last, continued General Smuts, the country would have been in a terrible position. Tho people could never be sufficiently grateful for their help. He admitted th© mortifying features of the compact with tho Labour 3 * n July, but said the lesser evil had been chosen. General Smuts quoted speeches by Pouisma, Bain, and Waterston to show that they wore revolutionaries of the most dangerous type. He taunted Labour members of Parliament with being mere preachers, leading their followers to the brink and then deserting them. Bain, Foutsma, and the colleagues were "doers.” They never intended that there should be a settlement ; it was their clear intention to goad the Government to action that would promote a general strike. Facts made it clear that the Syndicalists nearly succeeded in their settled intention to paralyse trade and terrorise the community into abject surrender. No invader could inflict greater destruction or bring greater disaster than Syndicalists who conspired to bring a country to its knees. General Smuts described Bain, whom he first knew as a secret service agent of the Transvaal Republic, as the most desperate character he had ever met. NO SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES. General Smuts spoke for a further two hours. He finished his speech amid general cheers, except from the Labourites. There were no sensational disclosures. .He that ’ the : exceptional nature of the crisis and the success of martial law had justified the proclamation, while the deportations had been justified on the grounds of expediency and public policy.

MINERS FOR AUSTRALIA. A PRISONER RELEASED. CAPETOWN, February 6. One hundred and fifty Rand miners nailed by the Berrima for Australia. Ferquena, one of the men tried by court-martial at Johannesburg, has been released. Oonnerty, Neild, Buckley, and Carson have been committed for trial on charges.of inciting a strike. DEPORTEES’ COUNSEL. TO BE HEARD BY ASSEMBLY. CAPETOWN, February 5. The Union Assembly agreed to hear the deported men’s counsel to-mor-row.