SOUTH AFRICAN STRIKE.

West Coast Times, 2 May 1914, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN STRIKE.

i/)iid Gladstones despatches

(r*E PH ESI ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.’

r/>\DO.V. May 1. A Hhiehook relating to the South African strike has been issued.

L.rd Cladstone in a despatch dated January -ilh, observed that owing to the excessively large criminal and semieriminul classes in Johannesburg, a general strike there, unless conducted peacefully, would create a perilous position. He accused Poutsma (one of the deported men) of .-ailing a strike without waiting for a ballot or giving the statutory notice. 'The despatch also notified the Colonial Secretary of the intended expulsun of the leaders which was justified by extreme necessity.

A later despatch said that it was impossible to doubt that the strike was an artificial one desigmd to disorganise the Government of the country and make the Trades Had paramount. Lord Cladstone defend.*! the proclamation .if martial Jaw. The call for a defence force was responded to hy T.U parlies.