South Africa

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 201, 23 February 1914, Page 5

South Africa

THE INDEMNITY KILL. DEBATE CONTINUED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Capetown, February -20. Continuing the debate 011 the Indemnity liill in the Union Parliament, Mr. Hun said a contributory cause to the industrial trouble was the t'Overnuient's failuie to deal quickly and effectively with the July troubles, Slartial lawwas absolutely necessary in view of the .Inly events. He also approved of the mobilisation of the troops, but could not support banishment without trial.

Mr. .luta blamed the Government for allowing a little stiihe to become an insurrection. The deportations would not eradicate. the evil, but would cause harnA General de Wet, the new Minister of Justice, replying, said that if martial law were justified the Government was bound to stamp out the conflagration, lhe Government hoped to introduce this session industrial legislation to give it increased powers.

Mr. lioydell emphasised the fact that the Labor Party had warned the Government that there would be a geneial strike at the end of the session. Clark, organising secretary of the Boilermakers' Society at Johannesburg, and Miller, a Socialist, have been committed for trial for sedition in connection with the labor trouble in January.

LABOR (LEADERS LIONISED IN BRITAIN. DEMONSTRATIONS PLANNED. Received 22, 5.5 p.m. London, February 21. The Labor section of the United ParJiamcntary Labor Party will entertain and provide for the needs of the deporteds, and will also provide the means to test the validity of their deportation. A joint committee of three National Labor Committees has arranged for Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, M.P., to preiiide at a dinner to the deportcds on the 26th inst., and demonstrations are arranged for the Opera House on the next day; and at Hyde Park on March 1.

"A SHARP TONJC." PHYSICAL FORCE NO RK.MEOY FOR GRIEVANCES. Received 22, 5.5 p.m. Capetown, February 21. In the Indemnity Bill debate, Mr; Watt, Minister.of Works, declared that be was proud of being a party to the deportations, because tlic country needed a sharp tonic. It would show the people of South Africa that physical force was not the proper remedy for grievances, and also show the people overseas that South Africa was prepared to manage her own affairs in her own way.

Mr. Andrews, chairman of the Labor Party, ridiculed the native danger. He recalled the fact that the Transvaal Miners' Association had passed a resolution offering to co-operate with the authorities to guard the compounds. He deplored the Government's non-explan-ation as to why the censorship of evidence was burned.

Mr. Watt replied that the refusal ot explanation was due to the tone being adopted by Mr. Cresswell. Sir Wools Sampson declared that the Rhodesians had been alarmed by the manner in which the strikers pandered to the natives. The Government's responsibility in the matter extended beyond the Union.

Professor Fremantle described the deportations as an appalling blunder, rousing the passionate protests of workers of the world, and the best opinion in England. The gravity of the deporfca-

tions consisted of the punishment of men not born in South Africa, thus creating feeling of insecurity such as existed in 1898. He concluded by protesting against Imperial interference in any form.