THE BAND STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18464, 27 January 1922, Page 5

THE BAND STRIKE

GOLD MINE PROBLEMS. CASE FOR THE OWNERS. HEAVY WORKING EXPENSES. Proas Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CAPETOWN, January 25. The Miners' Federation is again aiming at the stopping of essential services in the mines. It has requested the Mine Officials’ Association to take a ballot regarding the continuance of this work. Mr Buckle, president of the Chamber of Mines, opened the case for the mine owners at the conference on the gold mines question. He stated that, as a result of the natives leaving, the mines would be seriously hampereu in restarting, and ho doubted" whether it would now be possible to carry on on the chamber’s original terms. Mr Bnckle said he thought also that, owing to flooding, it might not be worth while reopening some of them. Generally speaking, it was difficult to say on what terms it would be worth reopening some of the mines. There was great difficulty regarding re-employment, and, if the strike lasted only a short time longer, more and move mines would find themselves unable to reopen. Thus there was most serious difficulty in coming to an "agreement. Continuing, Mr Buckle affirmed that the Chamber of Mines never had any idea of removing the colour bar. In seeking to terminate the status quo of the agreement the main desire was to retrench redundant white workers. The chamber was prepared to give guarantees as to the ratio of whites to blacks. Sir Evelyn Wallers reiterated that*tho cancellation of the status quo did not mean the removal of the colour bar. The position of the industry .made retrenchment inevitable, and the strike made greater retrenchment unavoidable. Mr Gemmell emphasised the fact that IT mines in December made a loss or a negligible profit. Half the industry was now at the point of . making calls. With reduced costs hundreds of millions of tons of low-grade ore could be worked,— Reuter.