[TO THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the Spectator of
November 7th there was published what may be taken as a reply to the articles and letters on this subject which have appeared in the Spectator and else- where. At the general meeting of the Consolidated Gold- fields of South Africa, the chairman (Lord Harris) made the following remarks :— "I should say without the slightest hesitation that it is entirely erroneous to allege that I, or the Board, have ever in any way discouraged the experiment of trying white labour. What I have said, and what the Board has said in its official letters, was to express the gravest doubts as to the possibility of employing white labourers on manual labour alongside of black labour successfully. I doubt if there is any instance in the world where the two are found working harmoniously together. The • white workman, whether rightly or wrongly, feels that it is a degradation to him to be doing the same work alongside a coloured man ; and having regard for that well-known antipathy, I have no hesitation in adding publicly my continued disbelief in its possibility, even if white labour could be made as economical as coloured ; and it has got to be remembered that in the case of low-grade propositions economy in the labour bill is absolutely essential if those mines are to be worked at sufficient profit to justify their being carried on. This was the reason for doubting the wisdom of the experiment, not that we thought Unionism specially threatened our industry. Labour Unions will4 have no doubt, work to get the best terms possible for their members— that is inevitable—and Capitol and Labour will have to, and will, as in all countries and all industries, come to terms by degrees. I may add that the result of the experiment has most clearly proved that white labour underground is at present too costly for all mines."
Probably every one shares Lord Harris's doubt as to the possibility of employing white labourers on manual labour alongside of black labour successfully. Black labour is not employed in the mines in Australia, New Zealand, British Columbia, &c. ; and from the figures given below it does not seem to be necessary to employ coloured labour to secure con- siderably increased economy in working compared to what has so far been reached in South Africa. It is obvious that the change should be made by changing, mine by mine, the superior class of labour for the other, beginning in the most favourable localities. Every one must likewise concur that in the low-grade proposition economy is absolutely essential if the mines are to be worked at a sufficient profit. The following is the detailed cost of working, in both cases for a quarter, taken from recent reports on two large and successful low- grade mines,—the Roodepoort, South Africa, and the Scottish Gympie, Australia :—
South Africa. Australia.
Coloured Labour. White Labour.
Cost per ton. Cost per ton.
s. d. s. d.
Mining expenses
Sorting, crushing, transport, and mill- ing expenses ...
General and headl office expenses Mine development ...
14 2/4
5 119
4 6-61
30
9 6-42 3 0.36 3 2-84 2 4-90 £1 6 11.14 18 2-52 The South African mine cost was 2s. 9-79d. per ton (for cyaniding) higher than the above, but this is left out as the Australian mine did not use the cyaniding process. The depth - of the Australian shaft is over 1,600 ft. The respective out- put per ton was: South African mine, 10.49 dwt., and the Australian mine, 10.09 dwt. The South African mine had the considerable advantage of softer ore, thus being able to treat 19,085 tons with an average of 53 stamps; while the Australian mine was only able to treat 20,300 tons with 125 stamps and the most modern machinery. If the unwilling- ness to work with white labour in South Africa is not due to the African prejudice against employing labourers who have the franchise, but only on the ground of economy, then it seems from the above that there is a misconception, economy being plainly on the side of the better-paid but more effective workman. The mine-owners in South Africa have much to learn by following closely the more economical systems of working in the mining centres in Australia, &c., which are far ahead of them. It seems a pity that they, without even trying it, should persistently turn a blind eye to the valuable experience gained at the older fields, amongst which is the economical advantage of employing a better class of labour.—
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