SOUTH AFRICAN LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1922, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN LABOR.

CONFERENCE WITH GENERAL SMUTS. REVOLUTION NOT RIPE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Capetown, Feb. 4. Industrial federation delegates interviewed General Smuts, and after a conference lasting several hotlrs, proceedings were adjourned till Monday. It transpires that the plans for a general offensive against essential services were altered at the last moment, the leader of the commandoes saying: “We do not want to risk a conflict that might mean the loss of life. The time is not ripe for a revolution.” Commando preparations were in progress in the West Rand throughout the night and early morning for general mobilisation in that area. Attempts at pulling out were made at nearly all the mines in the West Rand, but failed in every instance. The militant section, however, is becoming more demonstrative. Further attempts at dynamiting the railway are reported, and public anxiety is increasing. The opinion is growing that the strike is being exploited for revolutionary purposes. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. Capetown, Feb. 5. It is announced that the strikers have arranged for all commandoes to concentrate over the whole reef on Monday with a view to preventing a continuance of the essential services by force if necessary. The chairman of a mass meeting held this afternoon intimated that, despite the negotiations with General Smuts, all the strikers must obey orders and pull out all non-unionists they couT,d. Should the proposal eventuate the position may become very serious, but the moderate section strongly oppose the move, which they regard as madness. —Reuter.