The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-10-15
LABOR SITUATION
IN SOUTH AFRICA
OF MEN RETARDs PRO
CORRESPONDING LABOR PROB
LEM IN MINING REGION.

The fact that native labor is now
harder to get than ever in South At
RIGA is retarding the work of reopening
the mining enterprises around johann
nesburg. The scheme which the mine
owners have on foot for surrounding
the difficulty is interesting, for if it
succeeds it will go far to solve the
problem of unskiiled labor in South
Africa, which has long been a most
perpleXng question. The mining COM
panies are building d large number OF
three-room cottages, and they hope to
attract many thousands of unskilled
workmen from England. They believe
that workmen should be Induced to
emigrate by the prospect of $l.25 a day
and free board and lodging from the
time they arrive at the mines. They
are suggesting that the government
should provide free transportation to
South Africa for those who would like
to go. and say they can give employ
ment to 100000 white men in the mines
of the Rand
The most vital question affecting
South Africa will be solved to the COM
plete satisfaction of all if the employ
ment of white labor proves successful
The distinctive feature of South Afri-
can life thus far is that all unskilled
labor is done by the blacks. Along the
coasts where the climate is hot and
humid it is not easy for white men to
accustom themselves to hard manual
labor under the blazing sun; but this
is not the main reason why all the
common outdoor work has been left to
the natives. Slavery was not abolish
ed till 1884, and in 200 years of it's ex-
istence in South Africa all white men
lost the habit of doing the ordinary
work of the town, farm and ranch, and
came to despise manual labor. The
abolition of slavery was one of the
| great grievances of the Beers and one
o fthe leading motives that led to the
tricks into the wilderness and the
founding of the Independent Boer re-
| publics. Up to this day no Boer or
other white man in South Africa will
perform any unskilled labor if ne can
! get black to do it for him. Indian
coolies have been brought into the
country to do some of the common
| work, but there are only about $4,000
| of them, and their numbers are too few
| to help solve the question, which is be-
! coming more serious with the increase
of work to be done and the growing
unwillingness of the Kaffirs to do it.
| The great trouble is that the blacks
of South Africa do not care to work
after they have earned money enough
! to buy a wife or two to till their gar
den patch and support them at home
| The Kalir prefers to be his own mas
ter, to acquire a little patch of land
| that he can call his own or to have a
| few cattle and turn them loose to
Craze on the free Veldt. Only a great
strike can give US a realizing sense OF
! how serious this labor problem has be
come. Fancy a white population of
about 100000 depending entirely upon
| the blacks, who are seven times as
numerous, to do the whole of the rough
work, and the blacks, who have never
given service that we should call real
! ly efficient, exhibiting a constantly
growing tendency to refuse to work for
! the whites on any terms. The effect
of this state of affairs becomes more
and more paralyZing as the conditions
| are intensified Times.