THE DEPORTED MEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16485, 26 February 1914, Page 7

THE DEPORTED MEN.

ARRIVAL IN LONDON,

MR BAIN'S STATEMENT,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February 24.

Mr Arthur Henderson, M.P., and other Labour leaders from a launch welcomed the deported strikers when the Umgeni arrived at Gravesend. Mr Bain thanked them, and said that, acting under legal advice, he and those deported with him refused to leavo the ship. The captain refused to allow the Labour leaders to como aboard, and the latter sang " Tho Red Flag," the deported men joining in the chorus. Later, Messrs A. Henderson and C. W. Bowerman, M.P., wero permitted to board the Umgeni, and induced tho deported men to land. THE STRIKE REVIEWED. STATEMENT BY THE DEPORTED MEN. ' Mr Bain has handed to Mr Arthur Henderson a statement reviewing tho events of the strike. He states that the burgher force was composed almost entirely of back-veldt Boers, who, in the Germiston district acted like bashi-bazouks, riding down and arresting indiscriminately hundreds of crimeless people. When the deported men were placed on the Umgeni they ware kept in their cabins with armed men inside and outside, until the vessel reached the threemile limit.

Then Major Trew stated that' they wero being deported to England by instructions from the Government, and if they returned they would be arrested. The captain had been instructed to pay them £3 each on arrival in England. " When the vessel passes the three-mile limit you are free men." The deported strikers protested against the illegality of the act.

The statement adds: . "It is because the right of access to all courts is denied us that we appeal to the people of Great Britain and the workers of the world to help us to prevent the South African Government from usurping the judicial powers of the courts, and to prevent the evident intention to make South Africa a Boer colony instead of a British colony." A QUESTION OF LEGALITY. The owners of the Umgeni are taking legal advice as to their position". Misgiving exists in Labour circles respecting the legality of the contributions from Unions towards the cost of entertaining the deported men. WILL SEE JUSTICE DONE. LABOUR PARTY'S PROMISE. LONDON, February 24. Tho deported men refused tho £3. They looked tired and worn, but pleased to land again. The qrowd cheered and accompanied them to tho railway station, where they entrained for London. The decision of the men to refuse the £3 offered by the South African Government was duo to the Labour Party's persistent appeals and promises to 6eo justice done and their desire to show their' respect to' the'Labour"' Party i ', A SECRET DOCUMENT.

WHY WAS IT BURNED? CAPETOWN, February 24. The Assembly had an all-night sitting, during which the second reading of the Indemnity Bill* was passed by 95 votes to 11. - General Smuts, Minister of Defence, replying to Mr Cresswell's accusation that the Government had ordered the censorship instructions to be burned, stated that he had wired to Pretoria on February 16 an order to burn a secret document from the War Office, relating to certain matters of wideworld importance. When new instructions were issued the old document had had to bo burned. The Government intended to endeavour to trace who revealed the matter. He proposed to move that % a solecb committee should be appointed to inquire into the source of Mr Cresswell's information regarding the burning of the document.

He concluded by declaring that the basic guarantee of liberty was force.A Bill has been introduced providing for special leave and extra pay for loyal railwaymen and fining strikers one and a half days' pay for every day they were on strike.

LOTH TO LEAVE THE VESSEL

SEVEN HOURS' PARLEYING. (Received February 25, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, February 25.

The newspapers comment on the humour of seven hours' parleyings resulting in the Labour leaders persuading ■the deported men to obey the captain's orders, otherwise the elaborate reception arrangements would have been disarranged. After compliments and introductory speeches had been exchanged between the Labour representatives in the launch and the Umgeni, Mr Bain explained, " We were placed on the vessel against our wishes and we do not intend to leave until we are taken back to South Africa." Mr Henderson urged that the whole British Labour movement was expecting the party.

Despite the recital of Laborite hospitality, Mr Bain remained adamant and Mr Henderson and his colleagues returned to their hotel chagrined. Later they again went to the vessel and thr«w a letter aboard the Umgeni embodying argumonts but these were without result, and they returned to Gravesend in the launch.

Meanwhile a number of journalists chartered boats and secured disjointed interviews over the ship's side. Finally Mr Henderson and Mr Bowerman were allowed aboard in order to persuade Mr Bain to leave the ship. When the officers suggested that the efforts had been fruitless, Mr Henderson pleaded for a little more time and finally he was successful.. The deported men left carrying small handbags and parcels. The members

of the party are staying at the Grafton Hotel as guests of the Reception Committee.

LIFE ON THE UMGENI

" CHRONICLE'S " VIEW OF THE LANDING.

BADLY STAGE-MANAGED. (Received February 26, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON, February 25.

Mr Poutsma states that ho was deported because he would have won General Smuts's seat for Pretoria East at tho general election. He denies that ho attempted to form a Labour republic. Passengers by the Umgeni state that the deported men wero very cheerful on the voyage. The captain treated them with the utmost courtesy. They bad the best of food and' entered heartily into deck games. • They frequently sang militant songs, marching on the decks until late at night. They appeared to be well supplied with money.

The "Daily Chronicle" says that the landing of the deported men was badly stage-managed. Anything impressivo was drowned in farce. The rush of eminent Labour leaders to Gravesend was not dignified. The deported men striking a heroic attitude and then climbing down in order to partake of the fatted calves was an unrehearsed absurdity. Nevertheless the problem is serious.