The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1914. UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1914. UNREST.

Since the South African war, groat improvements have been made in the conditions under which both white and colored miners live'on the Hand, and this fact makes the present unrest all the more difficult to understand. Formerly the native laborer was recruited easily; now he insists, before signing his contract, upon various conditions being included. He hears from ids fellow-natives which are the bidder mines, at what compounds the food is more satisfying, and where more latitude is permitted to the employees. What this altered condition of tilings means may be illustrated by taking a large mining company and showing what has been done during the last, few years in improving the Jiving conditions of the miners. A fair example is given in the Crown Mines, Limited. In eight years’ time the Company has spent nearly £150,000 on quarters and recreation rooms for its 18,000 white employees. It has erected model cottages on tin l property, which it rents at I rout ids to £5 per month. Some 500 rooms have been provided for; single men at an average rental nil 10s per month, and seven hoarding-! houses and co-operative messes all which the while miner is hoarded for one month at an inclusive charge of 1 rom L‘l I Os to £6 are now in use. I The men’s average monthly wage is £25 ss. , Five large recreation-rooms, with libraries, concert-rooms, and dancing am! billiard halls, nine tenuis courts, a sports ground, a boathouse and limits, a swimming hath, and an 18-hole golf course have been provided bv the Company on its property for

the benefit of its white employees.; From those facts il w ill be evident that the white miner of this Company at least has little to complain of in, the way of quarters. But. as iu the whole of Australasia, ami in both Europe and America the spirit oi unrest is abroad, and industrial peace is difficult to maintain.