SOUTH AFRICA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9643, 19 January 1903, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA

THE RAND LABOR QUESTION. Electric Telegraph Copyright- United Preas Association CAPETOWN, January 18. 'Pp.* Indiana at Kolfyfuntein found the work too hard, and returned to Kimberley. Mr Chamberlain, speaking at the Johannesburg banquet, suggested that the Imperial Government appoint a Royal Commission on the Labor question. Expectations regarding his reception were fulij' realised. He was much impressed by the interview with leading Boers. Just and generous treatment would remove animosities and prejudices, and tlie virile qualities of their late brave opponents would be a strength to the nii.tion. / (Received January 19, 8.45 a.m.) CAPETOWN, January 18. Rand companies contemplate an expenditure of 50£ millions on deep levels. Amongst the projects being discussed is ! the possibility of mining at a depth of 12,000 feet. The engineers of the Chamber of Mines at Johannesburg informed IMr Chamberlain that the earnings of 12.000^ whites engaged m the mines average £353 a year, repersenting an increase m the cost of production of 2s lOd per ton. If white labor Were adopted exclusively it would represent an increase. of 10s per ton, rendering half the mines unprofitable. LONDON. January 18. The Spectator suggests that no Chinese should be imported during the British trusteeship of the Transvaal, and adds that decision m the matter would be better left to the autonomous Government. Mr Copeland, interviewed by the Daily Chronicle, said that one European miner vnvn worth five Chinese. The action of the Rand capitalists was contemptible. English and Australian workmen helped to save the mines, and now the owners proposed to hand their legitimate employment to a horde of barbarians. If Mr Chamberlain consented to the importation it would fax outweigh all the good he h:id ever done, and embitter the whole of Australia and Canada, and make tlium avowed enemies of himself and the Imperial policy.