SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1922, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICA.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. STRIKE BOARD SET UP. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Capetown, Feb. 18. The Governor-General’s speech at the opening of Parliament announced that the Government had taken over full responsibility for the defence of the South African Union. It welcomed the Irish Free State as a sister Dominion, and trusted it would prove a new Source of strength to the Empire. The Government had accepted an invitation to send a representative to the Genoa Conference. Negotiations for the admission of Rhodesia into the Union were in progress. Regarding the strike, the speech stated that a board would be appointed to consider the changes necescary to enable the gold-mining industry to be conducted on a sound, economic basis so as to afford employment for the largest possible number of persons dependent thereon.

Mr. Hertzog gave notice to move for the appointment of a select committee to consider means of settling the strike. General Smuts explained his efforts to secure a settlement, and said that neither side had assisted the Government by nominating members tp the proposed settlement board. Parliament would, as a last resort, be the venue of a permanent settlement, but it could not act without impartial and direct information. The strikers were returning to work in numbers and no doubt, When they realised that Parliament could not take immediate action, the strike would be ended. The men had behaved well, in spite of certain incitements, and were entitled to fair treatment. Their funds were running out and the sooner they resumed work the better for themselves and the country.