LABOR CRISIS IN AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 5

LABOR CRISIS IN AFRICA.

NO SETTLEMENT AT GOLD MINES. POSITION IN COAL INDUSTRY. By Telagraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Capetown, Jan. 26. So far there is no sign of a settlement of the strike the gold mines. The conference of the men’s representatives argued that the mine officials should be retrenched correspondingly with the miners. They declined to accept tIT6 figures of the ratios presented on behalf of the Chamber, of Mines, and declared that the present crisis was temporary, and that the Chamber was taking advantage thereof to force the position and get rid of tha white miners. An official summary states that the men’s case is more a matter of charges against the mine-owners than argument on the existing situation. The colliery section of the Chamber of Mines has withdrawn the offer to the coal miners on the ground that sufficient time Tfas elapsed for them to give an answer. Subsequently notices were posted at the collieries discharging all the shirkers.

The federation has submitted to the Chamber of Mines proposals for a basis of settlement with regard to the coal section and has asked for the withdrawal of the notices and submission of the dispute to arbitration and, as regards the gold section, the withdrawal of all the notices and no interference whatever with the status quo agreement. The federation and unions separately ate prepared, to discuss with the employers all other questions in dispute in conference in accordance with past procedure. No settlement of the general strike will be made until the various outstanding disputes are settled. When the strike conference resumed the workers continued their attacks upon the chamber’s proposals and declared that the Government and the Chambef of Mines were in collusion and the mine owners were limiting production in order to increase profits. One delegate said the men would not be defeated without bloodshed. The conference is virtually ended, the men’s delegates declaring that no good purpose could be served by continuing the discussions. Representatives of the Chamber of Mines emphatically protested against termination before they were given an opportunity to reply to the men’s charges. No afternoon session was held but the conference will meet to-morrow to hear the result of the proposals which the federation has submitted to the chamber, as given above. —Reuter.