African Affairs.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1922, Page 2

African Affairs.

II'STIUI.IAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

A DELATED OFFER. (Received This Day at 5.30 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Feb. 23 The Industrial Federation now propose a settlement of ttie strike by the appointment of a commission on lines of the Sankey Commission in Britain, to enquire into the conditions obtaining in the mining industry and question of indentured labour. Low grade mines to be assisted by a fund contributed to by the State and employers aml employees, a sliding scale of wages to he adopted. The general opinion is 14 l-’-'e proposals have come too late to affect the situation.

MR SMUTS VIEWS. (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Feb 23

In rejecting Hertzog’s motion to appoint a permanent body to decide the industrial disputes, Mr Smuts in the Assembly said the only countries where there was compulsory arbitration were Australia and New Zealand and in

tii so countries t e system was a g itstly failure. ; It was one of the devices which was wrecking the whole industrial system of those countries. There was no country in the world where strikes were more rife and the industrial position more unsound than Australia. The debate on the Band strike situation was adjourned, after Mr Smuts had outlined a plan for the resumption of work, and appointment of an impartial tribunal to report to Parliament.

A LONG TOW. CAPETOWN, Feb. 22

A remarkable tow was accomplished by the Swedish steamer Unden bound fur Australia, which towed the sailer

iarthforce also hound for Australia, and disabled by a collision with an iceberg, to Durban, a distance of a thousand and twfclve miles in eight days. The Garthforce had drifted for fifteen days before she was sighted by the cnden. CAPE STRIKE BREAKERS ATTACKED. CAPE TOWN, Feb 21. A party of the strikers at Bcnoni, rushed a. trolley that was being escorted by twenty police, and was carrying the “free” labourers furniture. The strikers poured petrol on it and burned the furniture. They then entered a house and smashed the remainder of tire furniture brought for the free labourers. The strikers seriously wounded the house owner and two policemen. Heavy police reinforcements then arrived and rounded up the strikers in the Workers’ Hall.

"Other reports state that commandos of the "strikers are engaged in what are called “scab hunts” at Germiston and other centres, causing consternation, ft is. stated that the commandos are committing serious acts. They captured and stripped three men going to work, and placed obnoxious labels on others, and 1 the police in attempting to rescue them, were stoned and some injured. Commandos are concentrating at Germiston.

Further trouble is feared. The authoritfles are preparing to. take drastic action.

FEAR OF REVOLUTION. CAPETOWN, Feb. 21. It is reported that the Portuguese Government. have brought troops from the provinces of Lisbon, in readiness to avert a militarist revolutionary outbreak, which was pec ted on February 19ta. A later message states that all is quiet, but the (President and the Government remain in a fortress at the mouth of the Tagus. It is stated that the Republican Guards are concentrated at the arsenal with Howitzer batteries and machineguns, in readiness for any emergency. USING DYNAMITE. CAPETOWN, Feb. 22 There were six dynamite explosions in Johannesburg last night. Electrical standards were blown up and power cut off at one mine. The police raided strikers’ headquarters. It is believed the Government will be popipelled to proclaim martial law,