SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 18

SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

(By Cable.)

CAPETOWN, April 4.

The Assembly, after an all-night sitting as the result of Nationalist opposition, necessitating the application of the closure, carried the second time the Enemy Repatriation Bill. A Government motion to refer the Bill to a select committee was adopted after the closure had again been applied. In the Assembly Mr F. S. Malan (Minister of "Mines) made a statement regarding the unrest on the Rand. He announced that Messrs De (Minister of Justice), and Mentz (Minister of Lands) were proceeding to Johannesburg to inquire into the..position. The Government intended to protect life and property, and measures to that end were being taken. The. Government was confident that a serious crisis ■would be avoided.

The native position on the Rand appears

more serious. The authorities have arrested the ringleaders. \ A large crowd of natives congregated in the precincts of the court, and when the court adjourned* the natives made a concerted move towards the entrance to the prisoners' yard. The police, armed with staves, charged, many natives being arrested and numbers injured. After holding a meeting the natives assaulted Europeans, but the mounted police were summoned, and speedily mastered the situation.

Later another collision occurred between Europeans and natives, three natives being shot and several whites injured.

A later Johannesburg message states that the native position is still in hand, and all is quiet.