Conditions Improving.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 20, 23 January 1914, Page 5

Conditions Improving.

IN SOUTH AFRICA. WORKSHOPS TO RE-OPEN. [Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association. 1 Pretoria, January 21. It is officially announced that the railway workshops will be re-opened on the 26th inst.

APPEAL TO THE STRIKERS.

ENGINEERS REMAIN OUT.

Johannesburg, January 22

i Prior to the meeting of the Federation executive whereat the strike was I declared off, several ballots were held, lowing to the feeling which existed in i consequence of the opinion among the ! rank and file changing and of staunch jmembers of the union being victimised I through their loyalty. Subsequently the executive requested permission to bold a meeting*of the General Council 1 of the Federation on Sunday, j A ballot taken at a meeting of minI ers which was held by permission of the •authorities, and /at which there veie present 87 delegates representing 33 mines, also ten members of the executive, including Matthews, the general secretary, and Toomey, the president, resulted in favor of declaring the strike off, by 46 votes to 41. The members of the executive did not vote. After the ballot, Matthews and Toomey appealed to the strikers to accept the delegates’ decision to resume work, and to be loyal to the Society. They said they would have preferred the Labor Federaton’s decision in the matter, but under the circumstances, that was impossible, therefore the miners had taken the initiative

The engineers voted to remain on strike by 160 votes to 130. The bricklayers and plasterers have decided to resume.

The carpenters’ executive declared the strike off, a request for a ballot subsequent to the meeting being ruled out of order.

A SYDNEY RESOLUTION,

GOVERNMENT’S DESPOTISM.

(Received 10.25 a.m.) Sydney, January 23

The Labor Council adopted a resolution condemning the despotic action of the Botha. Government in connection with the strike and urging the South African workers to unite at the ballot box to replace a Parliament representative of capitalism by one representative of the democracy. A copy of the resolution was sent to Mr Botha. RUSHING BACK TO WORKSHOPS BOILERMAKERS TO RESUME. (Received 11.55 a.m.) Capetown, January 22.

The situation has improved at Pretoria and Durban, which are the only remaining railway strike centres. r I lie men are rushing back to the Pretoria workshops. The boilermakers, who were hitherto firm, have intimated that they are resuming. It is expected that the workshops will restart on Monday with a full complement. The department are unable to take on a number of the lowerpaid men at the Durban workshops, owing to the engineers remaining out.

MARTIAL LAW RELAXED.

STRIKE LEADER’S BODYGUARD.

(Received 11.55 a.m.)

Johannesburg, January 22

At a combined meeting of the trade strike was declared off unconditionally. The men also accepted the resolution of masters declining to recognise any organisation except a union composed entirely of building trade operatives.

The martial law restrictions are being relaxed in the Band area with the exception of part of the East Band.

Seventeen men who formed part of Bain’s bodyguard and who presented the police from arresting him were themselves arrested when the police raided the Trades Hall. They were charged with acts of disorder prejudicial to the* public safety. They were remanded to the 27th, bail being refused.

RAILWAYMEN’S LAST CHANCE.

CLOSES NOON TO-MORROW.

(Received 11.55 a.m.) Pretoria, January 22

Mr Burton has issued a notice to railwaymen stating that the notice of the seventeenth only applies to men offering for employment before noon to-morrow< Those not applying will be treated under the terms of the Railways Act, forfeiting'their contributions to the superannuation fund.

THE INDIAN QUESTION.

CONCILIATORY MEASURES.

(Received 11.55 a.m.) Pretoria, January 22. j The Correspondence between the ■ Indian leader Gandhi and the secretary for the Interior is published. The net result is that Gandhi promises to await the reply of the Judicial Commission before reviving the passive resistance movement. Although Gandhi does not appear before the Commission, ho is willing that vSir Benjamin Robertson, envoy f

of the Indian Governemnt, should do so on his behalf. The Department of the Interior agrees to liberate bona fide passive resisters and await the recommendations of the Commission, and then legislate. The Indians undertake not to press the charge of ill-treatment and brutality towards strikers, the Government agreeing not to produce negative evidence thereon, but reserving the right to investigate occurrences resulting in loss of life in the two affrays in November.

MARTIAL LAW CONDEMNED.

(Received 12.25 p.m.) London, January 22,

The Trades Union Congress condemned martial law in South Africa, and the brutal way the military used to overawe the workers in an industrial dispute.

AWAITING THE COMMISSION,

Pretoria, January 22

The Tndans have promised not to renew passive resistance pending the Commission’s report. The authorities agree to release the imprisoned resisters and await the Commission s recommendation, and then legislate.