TRANSVAAL

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9093, 12 March 1908, Page 5

TRANSVAAL

Press Association.-—Copyright.. Received March 11, 10.58 p.m.. Pretoria, March 11

The Mining Industry Commission of the Transvaal recommends the stoppage of the importation of natives from Portuguese territories, the gradual elimination of black labour, the adoption of the principle of one white man one machine, and eight hours a day. It states the change does not involve a material increase in the cost of production. This is controverted in a minority report signed by Spencer, the manager of the Consolidated Main Reef.

Mr Smuts, while professing to be convinced as to the desirability of substituting white for colored labour, declares it to be one thing to introduce the theory gradually and quite another to upset the whole economic condition of society. AN IMPRACTICABLE IDEAL. Received March 13, 8.23 a.m. Pretoria, March 11. The Rand Mining Commissioners emphasised, that there was no essential difference between the importation of Chinese and "of Portuguese natives, as one was just as unreasonable as the other. The Commissioners declare that it is possible .to make the Transvaal as attractive to working men as Australia and California.