THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1448, 24 May 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

GOVERNMENT SILENT. AN UNAUTHORISED STATEMENT. A statement, without any name attached, has been published locally to the ctiect that the Government is "fully alive to the position" created bv tlie Waihi strike, and while not anticipating* any difficulty in l'egrrd to the supply of coal in the Dominion, was prepared f'or an emergency, should it ari«c. This statement appears to lnive lacked authorisation.

'The Prime .Minister (Hon. T. Mackenzie) when seen by a Dominion- reporter last night, said the Government hud not made any pronouncement on the Vl'aihi strike, and he was not at present prepared to say anything about it. ■ (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Waihi, May 23. The Strike Committee has issued a manifesto in reply to the manifesto of the engine-drivers. Summarised, it states: "(I) In tho two previous attempts to form a union, the engine-drivers publicly announced the fact, but 011 this occasion anonymous letters were sent *0 several engine-drivers, asking them to attend and bring a friend with them. The Miners' Union objected to the new union because, if registered, it ~ would bring under the Arbitration award more engine-drivers' and firemen, who are members of tho Miners' Union, than are comprised in Hie new organisation. "(2) Ballots for cancellation of the Miners' Union registration were conducted on lines best calculated to conform to tho Arbitration Act. Tho result was an overwhelming majority in favour of cancellation, after every member in the mines and at the batteries had been given an opportunity to record bis vote. "(3) The matter of cancellation was first brought before the Miners' "Union Committee by an engine-driver. A communication was forwarded, to the federation's fioiicitor, urging him' to watch developments in the House owing to rumours that atiempts were being to reduce the status of engine-drivers' certificates. So far no attempt has been mndo to bring this matter before the House. "(4) ft is true 'that three years ago some drivers obtained a small increase in wages, bringing them up to Ift-;. Gd. per shift, an increase of fid. over the. award. Since last July, however, a'il winding engines, with the exception of small winches, had been considered uniform, ensuring lis. a shift. This further increase was obtained by the Mmer.s Union; the arbitration award did not exceed 10s. "(5) A noteworthy fact was that lead-, ing spirits in the new union ronid not pass the eyesight test. Ail the enginedrivers examined by the Mines Commission favoured a medical examination of drivers. Thirty lives are in the hands of the drivers at one time, and it is essential that proper precautions should be adopted. The talk of the drivers conforming to the law: does not conceal the fact that they would 'scab' on their fellow-workers out 011 strike. Prominent members of the Drivers*' Union informed an official of the Miners' Union that 'the company was behind us,, and, if necessary, to keep (lie pumps going, we will do so,' also that 'in the event of the trouble the. company would stick to the drivers, and grant them preference.' "(7) A resolution by the Miners' Union that its members would not be lowered by tho drivers in the dispute was forwarded to the drivers' secretary, but net acknowledged. A deputation was then sent to talk matters over, but was refused admittance.. The drivers complain 0? coercion, yet form a union obviously at the companies' dictates, iit order to revive Mr. Justice Sim's coercive remark, 'Seii your labour at o certain price; refuse, and you are law-breakers.' If the drivers are successful they v;i!l force a majority of the drivers and firemen, wiio bitterly' oppose arbitration, under ttlir award."

The drivers' manifesto is characterised as puerile and irrelevant. The manifesto states' also that an organiser of the Federated Drivers of New Zealand visited \Vnihi recently with the intention of organising the local drivers, but that, learning of the tactics adopted by them, ho decided to have nothing to do with tliein. Waihi, May 23. The town is again <iniet. last night another roll call was made, fallowed by a dance. The programme for the idle men includes billiard tournaments and euchre tourneys in the evening. There has been a foiling oil' in the departures from town during I lie past few days. The indiscriminate sale of revolvers, the local ironmongers state, has been stop, ped- ' Interviewed! this morning, the secretary of the Engine-drivers' Union stated that no remittance had yet been received by him. He pointed out that his union has made no appeal for funds to the public. Tho Grand Junction Gold Company's pay takes place to-day. and this practically disposes of the principal pays.