POLICE TRAIN SPEEDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 9

POLICE TRAIN SPEEDS

DIAMOND-FIELD TROUBLE NAMAQUALAND DIGGERS (United r.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10.11 a.m. CAPETOWN, Wed. The uneasiness of the Government about the position at the Namaqualand diamond field has been reflected by the rushing of a special train with 200 policemen from Pretoria. They are expected to arrive at Port Nolloth on Sunday. On the following day the diggers will demonstrate, when their ultimatum to the Government demanding the removal of restrictions, expires. Failing compliance with this demand the diggers threaten to storm the diggings.

Recently the South African Government yielded to political pressure, owing to the disastrous effects of the drought prohibiting prospecting on the Namaqualand field. The prohibition applied only to areas abutting on the coast. Discriminatory decisions by officials accentuated the complaints, while a permit was granted to prospect a farm only three miles inland. The diggers vigorously protested, and talked of rushing the State diggings at Alexander Bay. They demanded the release of the men who had disagreed with the prohibition and notified the magistrate at Port Nolloth that they would start prospecting to-day at Buchuberg, which has proved to be diamondiferous. The Government dispatched 24 selected policemen with machine-guns on motor-lorries last week.