THE COLONIST. Published Daily-Morning. Nelson, Tuesday, January 5, 1904. THE LABOR QUESTION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10915, 5 January 1904, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily-Morning. Nelson, Tuesday, January 5, 1904. THE LABOR QUESTION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

1 We were told yesterday, through the cable, that the petition of the Transvaal in favor of Chinese labor had already received 1700 signatures, and that ladies were actively canvassing for signatures. The labor difficulty in South Africa, which was so great before the war that Mr Cecil Rhodes appealed to the Transvaal Government for permission to import coolies to work in the mines on the Band, a request 'that was at once refused by President Kruger, has become intenIsified of late. In 1897 some hundred thousand Kaffirs were working in the mines, but last? year not more than 60,000 were obtainable, while 200,000 were wanted. It was moreover, found impossible to obtain labor from other f parts of British Africa, owing to the indolence of the natives, and their dislike to work under ground. As a consequence the mines are not being worked to advantage, and progress is being delayed. A writer who is evidently well acquainted with the conditions which obtain in South Africa says that the labor difficulty is the more serious when it is borne in mind that throughout the war, and for some time afterwards, the Transvaal mines, comprising the most impor* lan* gold producing area of the '

world, were practically at a standstill, causing a scarcity of gold, which still exists, '[and which is largely responsible for the financial depression. It is of the utmost importance, not only to the owners who have four hundred million pounds sterling invested in the mines, but also to trade and industry throughout the world, which is hampered by the scarcity of the yellow£metal,^that the mines^ should be wo rkedfto their fullest capacity, and this can only be accomplished by Chinese labor. To those who assert i t]iaT""the~ latter can be dispensed with^ it may be pointed out that the importation of^Chinese is a far more costlyjprocess than the^ recruiting jot Kaffirs, and th^t"in*thair own interests the mine owners would never have resorted to coolies unless they had previously exhausted every available means of obtaining the necessary amount of African labor without success. In fact, there are but .two alternatives '..to the question— either the importation of Chinese labor or ejlse the restrictionof the output of the existing mines, and the abandonment of Ine development of the new ones, with? the result that gold would become still more scarce, affecting injuriously trade and industry all over the face of the globe. It must be added, the writer referred 'to, ' proceeds to say, that the South African mines are most of them of exceedingly low grade ore, and in order to- be worked at profit need a plentiful supply of cheap labor. White labor' in connection therewith is out of the question, and, as far as the mines .themselves are concerned, ihe importation difthe Chinese will not affect' thd' white market in South Africa in the least, always providing that they can be restricted to the mines/ and to work of the same kind, which, by reason of the conditions of climate, is beyond the power of the white man. There are hundreds of square miles of auriferous territory, not ouly in various parts of the Transvaal, but also in Rhodesia, which cannot be mined, nor even scratched, under the existing labor conditions, but which may be developed to advantage wish tbe assistance of cheap Chinese labor. He says it is estimated that some half a million coolies will be required for the mines already opened, as well as for those projected in the near future, while the British Government will require some 60,000 for railway extension works. The proposal is.thnt only unskilled Chinese labor shall be admitted into the Transvaal and Orange Colonies, and that Chinese shall be precluded from Jembarking in any mercantile pursuit, as trader or shopkeeper, and from carrying on any of the callings coming under the head of skilled labor, such as* those of blacksmith, carpenter, engine driver, mechanic, <fee, and it is expressly stipulated that those who import skilled labor from China for .a stated term shall, at the conclusion thereof, undertake repatriation of the coolies at the end of tbe contract under penalties of both fine and imprisonment in the case of neglect to 'comply with this stipulation. Tbe intention is that no Chinaman is to ba permitted to remain in the country after his term of contract has expired j and he is not to be permitted to own property. With the importation of over half a million of the lowest? type[of Chinese, however, there will be grave dangers, and there is a prospect of the South African race deteriorating. The difficulties of the Dark Continent are clearly'not yet at~an end. """

Unclaimed Letters.— The following unclaimed letters .are lying at the Post Office, Nelson :— -Joseph Henry Cresswell, Miss Jenkins, Chas, R. Mitchell, Miss Reid, Mrs Robb. Vital Statistics. — For the month of December the number of births registered in Nelson was 21, whilst the deaths numbered 16, and the marriages 14. During the year 1903 there were 235 births registered in Nelson, as against 223 in 1902— an increase of 12; there were 164 deaths, against 140 in the previous year — an increase of 24; and there were 91 marriages, as against 82— an increase of 9. Swimming.— A meeting of members of the Nelson Amateur Swimming Club will be held at Mills' rooms this evening. Wanted a Change. — Yesterday, a lad some eleven years of age was handed over to the Police, he having walked aboard the steamer at Wellington without a ticket... On en-i quiries being made, it was found j that the lad's name is Henricksen, and his father has paid the passage money. -The boy will be returned to Wellington this evening by the Penguin. Desire lor a change of scene was the for the runaway. Cycling. — At the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's sports, held at Masterton on New Year's Day, W. J. Mill, of Nelson, secured second place in the mile bicycle race, and third In the two mile and three mile respectively. A. MeCarrison, the examateur rider, who is now riding in great form, captured the three events. Their handicaps in the one, two and three mile events were as follows:— A. MeCarrison, 50yds, lOOyda, 150 yd s; W. J. Mill, 80yds, 160 yds, and 240 yds respectively. * State Fire Insurance Department. — In another column the Colonial Treasurer invites applications for the position of manager of the State Fire Insurance Department at a salary of £800 a year. Applications will be received up till 21st inst. Change of Business. — In another column Messrs W. Rout & Sons intimate that they have disposed of their auction business to Messrs J. F. Clark & Co.; they express their thanks for the support and patronage they have received, and bespeak for their successors a like measure of support.. Messrs J. F. Clark & Co. also announce the principles on which their business will be conducted. No doubt the new firm will receive a fair share of patronage. A Contradiction. — A rumor to the affect that Mr Aldridge, of the Labor Department in Nelson, is to be transferred to Wanganui, has been ajiven publicity to, but we are requested by Mr Adridge to state that there is no truth in the report that tie is about to be transferred. Charge of Theft. — An Assyrian aawker named JosephjgSaba made complaint to the Police yesterday? that he had been robbed of £5,0 in I < aanfc notes. It seems that Saba, 'l (Vifchhipeon aod another Assyrian o ' " ' -' -Si!.' '

aamed* George Mickolaa (who is alii brother-in-law of Saba's), were lodgr a ing with. Mr Benjamin Earl, St; ti Vincent St., and Saba on Sunday I night left £140 iv notes in his coat ti pocket, but on counting his money I yesterday morning he found it £50 ° short. A search warrant was taken v out, and a sum of £94 was found in a George Nicholas' hawker's van. Last ° evening Nicholas was arrested, and ~ will be brought before tbe Magistrate i this morning. v Masonic. — The usual monthly 1 meeting of the Southern Star Lodge will be held this evening, at the Lodge room, Collfngwood street. !H. Battery. —Wellington files to j hand contain reports of the military tournament held at the Empire City, wherein the Nelson H. Battery took part. In the Artillery Driving Competition the H. Battery No. 1 $cam (Sergt. Brough), 38pts won easily from the E.. Battery (Christchurch) No. 2 team* 32pts. The H. Battery No. 2 team (Sergt. Hamilton), 27pts, secured third place, one point ahead of the D.' Battery (Wellington). The ibest individual driving was done by Sergt. Brough (H. Battery), and ,Corpl. Brown and Sergt. Fletcher D. Battery). In the Alarm Competition the H. Battery did not secure a place, but -acquitce'd themselves ■creditably. The team returned home on Sunday morning.— A meeting of the H. Battery will be held this evening to elect a lieutenant. A certificated engineer to take charge of a stationary engine at a sawmill is advertised for in this 'issue. ; There ha 9 since the war (remarks a Cape Journal) been a notable in-, crease in crime of the more" serious order in South Africa. The more remarkable aspect of the phenomenon is that which concerns the rural or semi-rural portion of the population, which like all rural communities is, in a comparatively crimeless condition. That this is but a passing phase may be taken for granted. Many Russian proverbs are like our own as illustrating the universality of "proverbial philosophy, " while others are in curious contrast. We have nothing like the Russian saying, "Love your wife like your soul, and beat her like your fur coat," unless it be the old English aixom, "A wife, a spanel, and a wor'nut tree, the more you whack 'em the better they be. " The Russian pro- j verbs relating to the married state are not altogether complimentary to the fair sex. For instance, there is one which says:' "A wife is not like a guitar; when your playing is done, you cannot hang her up on the wall," and " A dog is wiser than a woman; it does not bark at its master. " Father Healy had a niggard among his flock, who, noticing a threepenny piece among his money which the Padre had in his hand, remarked : "You got that from last Sunday's collection, Father." VYes; your lordship recognises your own contribution," was the quiet reply. Eccentric, plain-spoken Rowland Hill had the knack of talking the miserly out of their meanness. ' ' I would advise you who are nqfc insolvent not to pass the plate," he once said, "as all the pleppe are sure to say :' There goes the bankrupt. ' : " Excitement is often the cause of strange telegrams, as well as other queer manifestations. A man who had been one of the passengers on a shipwrecked vessel was rescued almost by a miracle. On arriving at a place from which he could send a telegraphic message, he forwarded the following despatch to his brother : "I am saved* Break it gently to my wife." Miss Hellen Gould, daughter of the late Jay Gould, like other millionaires, receives a continual stream of begging letters. In one week not long ago she had 117, and their requests ranged from the founding of a colony in Cuba to the releasing of a watch from pawn. The specific sums asked for amounted to over £300, 000. A strange story of the discovery of an unsuspected art treasure comes from Canada. A Montreal art dealer was playing golf and drove a ball through a window of a cottage. It struck a picture on the wall. The dealer paid handsome compensation and also acquired the injured picture. It turned out, after cleaning and examination, to be a Dutch interior by Teniers, of the value of £500. Half of this sum the dealer gave to the original owner. In England some years ago the courts set apart for county courts were, in outlying districts, in a disgracefully ruinous condition. It is said that a certain learned Judge was sitting in a Court engaged on a heavy trial, when the ceiling of the courthouse fell down, much to the alarm of the persons present? The Judge, with great sang-froid, turned round to the solicitors present, and said: "Gentlemen, Ruat Coelum fiat justitia" (Though the heavens fall, yet let justice be done), and proceeded straightway with the trial. In Melbourne, a bookmaker who once owned a horse worth £5, 000, and ran his own horses, has just been fined for making a penny book with newsboys. Miss Margaret Cox-Taylor, a young Australian journalist, will visit the colony early in the new year for the purpose of " writing up" some of our scenic resorts, etc. Miss Cox-Taylor is a contributor to London 'Punch' as well as to Australian journals. B^A member of the Auckland Police Force has just passed his final examination as a solicitor. This is Mounted Constable Dart, who pursued his studies in his spare hours. Captain Jackson Barry has retimed to Wellington. The old man is very feeble. He did not get as far as Botorua. Mr C. H. Borlase, of Wanganui, a well known solicitor, died on Sunday night at the age of fifty-nine years. The Juvenile Smoking Suppression Act came into operation on January Ist. The minimum smoking age is 15 yea rs, ; and supplyi ng. tobacco to a "prohibited person" is an offence under the Act. A well known Hawke's Bay flaxmiller has entered into a contract with an American firm to supply several hundred tons of fibre a year fo the next five years. The price is £31 per top. While gathering eggs near her residence,- Moe, Victoria, Miss MT Fechner was bitten on the leg by a black snake. When she first saw the snake she picked up a stick and attempted to kill it, but the stick broke. After having procured another one, she went in search of 'the reptile, and was bitten. Her brother cut a piece of flesh out with a razor, and 3ucked the wound. MissiFechner is Dow out pf danger. ' Nothing has ever been io vented to equal the McCormick reaper and binder. Wanted Known. — Just opened, some very jretty designs in N.Z, Greenstone Hat Pina. — Brown & Kerr, 33 DOE'S HEAD brand of Fare Creamery '. Butter,' resh made summer and winter: l wholesale and retail, delivered Nelson. i VICTORY BUTTER. -Be cure and ask f pour Grocer for Victory Butter. Pure and f ta'rcious. ; , . \ Thh Tkmpbbattjbb. — At three o olook this t norning the thermometer outside this office I egistered 53 degrees - f Dr. W. B.'Bubh, Oakland, Fla, writes :— c 'I employ Sander & Sons Pure Volatile p Sacalypii Extrao as a local application in v brodf mflammfttjopg and rheumatic pains a

aternally in nipkrltio as wall as in pulmonary, gastric and vesioal catarrh. It is some, imes (tiffioult to obtain the genuine article, employed different other preparations, they iad no therapeutic value and no effects, n one case the effects were similar to the it camphor, the objeotionable action of yhich is well known.' — This is certainly . moat striking evidence of the superiority if this excellent preparation over any ojher. -Insist getting Sander & Sons Euoalipt Sxtraot, or else you will be supplied with worthies oils. 57SATS8R AND STJNSHINB BECORD Takkn at Wakwice Housb, Nelson. On Thobsda-s. Barometer at 9 a.m . . . . 29.9 Maximum Temperature for 24 hours ended 9am,.. .. 88 deg. Minimum temperature for 24 . hours ended 9 a.m. . . . . 56 deg«^ Rainfall du.riog 24 hours ended at 9 a.m." „ '. . , . . Nil Sunshine registered' before noon, Oh.' Oot!. ; after noon, ph. o<n, Total .« .. .. Oh. Om. On Fridat. Barometer at 9 a.m -30 Maximum Temperature for 24 " hoars ended at 9p m. .. 74 deg. Minimum Temperature for 24 hours ended 9 a.m:.. .. 53 deg; Rainfall during 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. Nil Sunshine registered before noon, / 7h! 20min ; after noon, sbrs oOmin, Total .. ..ISh.lOm. On Satdbdat. Barometer at 9 a.m . . . . . 30 1 aximum temperature for 24 I hours ended at 9 a.m 4 . 83 deg. I Minimum temperature for 24 | hours ended at 9 a.m i( 47 deg. tiainf all daring 24 hours ended at9a.ni* .. .. .. Nli Sunshine registered before noon 7h. om. ; after noon, 4h. 40mins Total .. .. llh. 40m. On Sunday. Barometer at 9 a.m. . . .. 30.0$ Maximum temperature for 24 hours ended 9 a.m 82deg. Minimum temperature for 24 .hours ended at 9 a.m. . . 47 deg. Rainfall during 24 hours ended at 9 a.m .. .. .. -04 in. Sunshine registered before noon, Bb. om. ; after noon, 4h. ! • 10m. Total. . . . .* 12h. lOaa. Barometer at 9 a.m. yesterday*. 29*8 f Maximum temperature for 21 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday 77 deg. Minimum temperature for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday 50 dt g . Bainfall during 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday. . .. Nil Sunshine registered yesterdßy, before noon 7h. 20m.; afternoon, 4h. 20m. Total . . llh. 40m.