The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, MARCH 16th, 1922 THE AFRICAN REVOLT.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, MARCH 16th, 1922 THE AFRICAN REVOLT.

The industrial trouble in South Africa has entered on what we may suppose to be its last phase. The recourse to sabotage and violence on the part of what has boon described as a hooligan element, among, or in sympathy with the strikers, and the acts of aggression that have been performed towards the native population had threatened the establishment of “mob rule.’’ In effect the authority of the State was challenged. The flaunting by the Communists of their flag in front of the Town Hall in Johannesburg and their bombastic declaration that the strikers’ “commandos” would close every business in the city were alike a defiance of the Government. For days the Government had held its hand. It had been reluctant to adopt sternly repressive measures. It has now, however, come to the conclusion that it can no longer refrain from action. The excesses of the strikers and of those who attempt in South Africa, as everywhere else, to make revolutionary capital out of the occurrence of strikes have necessitated an appeal by the Government to the loyal and law-abiding members of the community to give their practical support to the political institutions of the country. The issue has gone beyond one in which the conditions only of employment in the mines were involved. Manifestly there are differences of opinion, which it is difficult to reconcile, on this point. We cannot hut he sensible of the fact that the miners have felt a deep sense of resentment concerning the proposals which the Chamber of Mines has put forward in the effort to bring about such adjustments as would place the mining industry on an economic basis. 'Hie dispute is one which is complicated by factors thnt do not present themselves in any industrial dispute in New Zealand, and the information which has reached us with reference to the developments that have taken place since the strike was begun in the first week of the year has been so meagre that it is really impossible for anyone to pronounce definitely and emphatically upon the merits of the case. There can, however, be no hesitation on the part pf anyone viio is loji-n] t-« fto* inf# l !? \

lions of his country and is faithful to the principles of democracy in making his choice as to the stand he will take in the present phase of the trouble, states a Dunedin paper. He must he either for the State or against it. If lie is for the State, if lie desires to feie the business of govern m<

I carried on in an orderly fashion with ! adequate protection for the life and libI erty of every person, white or colour- ; ed, in the State —he must support the Government in the present crisis. Tho Government Inis probably been lacking in firmness in its handling of a situation which went rapidly last week from bad to worse. This view is suggested by the fact that, as was admitted by General Smuts in the Legislative Assembly, “fighting was raging over a large part of the Rand, with heavy casualties.” It is clear indeed, from the particulars which are supplied in our cable news that a civil wftr on u small scale is in progress. The revolutionaries, by which those who aro engaged in a hopeless effort to overturn the Government and to seize the reins of power are correctly described, seem to have a surprisingly largo, well disciplined and well armed forco at their command. Moreover, li v a. policy of concentration on points where the police detachments were in insufficiently numerous to offer effective resistance, they have achieved a few initial successes. Now. however, that martial law has been proclaimed and that the Government lias evinced its determination to reassert its authority in the places where it has been flouted there must be a liberal and swift rallying to its side by all who value the benefits of tile constitutional government and prize the Imperial connection. The Government will not, appeal in vain. It was a significant circumstance that the Nationalists in the Legislative Assembly supported the Government after General Smuts had claimed public assistance in tbe assertion of the authority of the State. It is very regrettable that the Government should have been put to the oned of introducing mnrtttti law in the country. Tbe violent and provocative behaviour, llowGvei 1 , of those who would set its authority at itnugiit left it no option. This, we have iio doubt, will he the view that will be accepted by tbe burghers throughout the country and, in no small measure, by members of the industrial classes who have no sympathy with red Republicanism. It may take a f°w days for the Government to vindicate its authority, but the. outcome cannot reasonably be regarded as doubtful.