RAND STRIKES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1920, Page 6

RAND STRIKES.

SEVEN MINES INVOLVED. By Telegraph.— Press Assn..—Copyright. Johannesburg, Feb. 18. The natives at the mines have latterly been showing unrest and the strike at the East Rand proprietary has now spread to seven mines, involving 33,000 natives. They have been told that if they keep quiet they will be repatriated and that they cannot be given more wages. A large force of police stationed in the affected areas, is maintaining order. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

DEALING WITH THE TROUBLE. Johannesburg, Feb. 18. The Native strike is spreading. General Smuts has arrived and conferred with the heads of the mining industry and the officials. Drafts of police are being dispatched to different centres. Nine mines are now affected, comprising roughly 40,000 natives.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GENERAL SMUTS ON THE SITUATION. Pretoria, Feb. 18. General Smuts, in a speech, referred sto the native trouble and said that between 30,000 and 40,000 blacks were on strike, well organised, picketing and doing things they would have considered natives incapable of. He had seen portents and signs that a tremendous change was coming over South Africa. Nonsense had been talked about a Republic and blood and tears. The natives would put these into practice and too late they would find their idle talk had put these mischievous ideas into the natives' heads- —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.