POSITION ON THE RAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 27

POSITION ON THE RAND

GOVERNMENT STANDS FIRM. THREAT TO STRIKE. CAPETOWN, July 21. At a meeting attended by 3500 people in the City Hall Mr Calmsforth, a popular Unitarian preacher, painted a lurid picture of labour conditions on the Rand. He alleged that while dividends of 220 (?) and 70 per cent, were paid the eacredness of human life was lacking.—(Sensation.) Since the war 100,000 lives had been sacrificed. The meeting approved a resolution asking the Imperial Government to inquire into the shooting of women and children. July J\. The conference between the Government and the Labour leaders at Pretoria lias concluded. General Botha f intimated that he would reply in writing. It is believed the result will be generally satisfactory. July 27. The Johanesbnrg Trades Federation has resolved again to present its demands to the Government, and if they are not granted will declare a general strike on a date which is being kept secret. JOHANNESBURG. July 25. The Government has taken elaborate precisions in the event of a failure to arrive at a settlement. Ten thousand troops are distributed on the Rand, the police are armed, and Corner House and the power stations are fortified with machine guns. July 25. The Government will not agree to proclaim public holidays on May 1 and July 4, which was the day of the recent bloodshed. It also refuses to repeal the law prohibiting meetings or the employment of force to suppress disturbances, and refuses to call a special session of Parliament to consider the Federation’s claims. The Government offers to appoint a commission of two owners and two employees representing the miners and other trades, with an independent chairman selected by the Government, to deal with the majority of the men’s demands, and a separate commission to deal with the railway men’s claims, though it is probable that the most important of their demands will he conceded right out. The Government reply has created an unfavourable impression among the Labour delegates, and a feeling of uneasiness prevails. July 27. The mine owners have agreed to recognise the trades unions, and to grant a vacation of 10 days and also an eighthour day, with half an hour for winding. July 28. The mine owners offer half-pay during ten days’ vacation after a year underground or two years on the surface. They agree to recognise the trades unions subject to the conditions that the employers approved of the unionist cor. stitution. that none of the funds should bo used for political purposes, that the Trades Hal! should not interfere in matters of discipline and management, and that the employees be allowed to make representations to the masters apart from the unions. The mine owners added that any extension of the concessions would involve the closing of a very considerable number of mines. Mr Malan informed the labour leaders that the Government regarded the concessions as very substantial.

One hundred and twenty delegates to the Trades Federation conferred throughout Sunday. The chief obstacles to a settlement are the miners’ demand for a minimum wage and the inclusion of winding in the eight hours. The Federation finally decided that the concessions were inadequate, and a Strike Committee was formed. A conference of Ministers at Pretoria completed elaborate precautions for maintaining order. The Trades Federation has cabled to the Labour party in Britain, protesting against the mobilisation of troops in the interest of the mine owners.