THE RAND STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1922, Page 5

THE RAND STRIKE.

SETTLEMENT DISCUSSED. PROPOSED COMMISSION. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.. Capetown, Feb. 22. The Industrial Federation now proposes a settlement of the strike by the appointment of a commission on the lines of the Sankey Commission in Britain to inquire into conditions obtaining in the mining industry, and the question of indentured labor, it is suggested that the low grade mines should be assisted Dy a fund contributed to by the State, employers and employees, a sliding scale of wages to be adopted. The general opinion je that the proposals have come too late to affect the situation. In rejecting Mr. Hertzog’s motion to appoint a permanent body to decide industrial disputes. General Smuts, in the Assembly, ..-aid that the only countries where there was compulsory arbitration were Australia, and New Zealand. la those countries it was a ghastly failure. It was one of the devices which was wrecking the whole industrial system of those countries. There w’as no country in the world where strikes were more rife and the industrial position more unsound than Australia. The debate on the Rand strike situation was adjourned after General Smuts had outlined a plan for the resumption of work and the appointment of an impartial tribunal to report to Parliament. TROUBLE IN JOHANNESBURG. There were six dynamite explosions in Johannesburg last night. Electric standards were blown up and the power cut off at one mine. The police raided the strikers’ headquarters. It is believed the Government will be compelled to proclaim martial law. COMMANDOS WARNED. Capetown, Feb. 22. The police have issued a warning that the commandos and other gatherings interfering with men wishing to return to work are unlawful assemblies, and w 'l be dispersed by the police. The public have been requested to avoid the vicinity of such gatherings.