THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1450, 27 May 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

-. . i—r~ » —. .' INTENTIONS OF THE COMPANY, INTERESTING EVENTS EXPEGTCG, rEKLTSO ON STOCK KXCtIANOE. Tclecrayh—Special Contispoiuieiii.) Auckland, May 20. I hough aviilioritalivo information is scanty, thij 'opinion is gaining ground (hat the next important development in connection, with the strike will occur on Wednesday, when the Waihi Company applies 'or fourteen days' protection. This pre-, li'niiiary to the application for leavo. to eloso down lor six months is certain to bo attended by interesting'events.

11l Auckland the futility of a general sfiikc is readily admitted by men who aro most loyal to the federation. They argue tluit the strike in Wuihi luis ari&eii from domestic disagreements, and (hat it would bo of little assistance to the Waihi men if the remaining unions ceased work. As a weapon to enforce sonic definite demand, the general strike appears to them super, ior to any other, but in the present circumstanves_ neither the Waihi union nor the ieuOTation as a whole has any defined grievances against Ihu employers, aguiust whom alone thisweapon can be directed. Even ii Iho unions gave such material support to iho Waihi men that the latter would b-o able So make somo demand of tile mining companies there would Ik no ■ rail gain. The miners have goiio on" "ti'lice because a certain section of workers has withdrawn from their union, and tfie reply which would be made bv the companies to a demand supported by •'< general strike is obvious. They would decla.ro their helplessness in iho matier, They cannot compel the members of the new union to abandon (lie altitude already adopted. That is exactly iho position at present. The Exchange opened to better business on Saturday, and free sales were mado of Waihi Grand Junctions from 225. 3d. 111? to 225. 9d., at which figure one line of .100 was pliseed. A couple, of days before, the quotation was about 21s. M.'Waihi shares also improved in value, sales being mads at IJKs: I'd., 305., and .'iss. !kl., whereas (lie closing buying iigurc on Tiiursday w«S only Ms. Ltd. This would peem to indicate that investors anticipate that; dm (rouble at Waihi will lis settled sooner (hail was at lir.it eipectcd.

Manufacturers in Auckland are not trusting; an.vUiinif to chanc«. Most nf them hovo laid in heavy supplies nf owl, so that in the evenl of a strike nf ciialminers, tho firms wjll be prepared .'forth*':'" aniprif«nc,v. Tho Auckland Gas Company, in conformity with its usual policy, him supplies for three months in hand,'while tho City Council has also heavy stocks in connection with the city's electrical plant-. The coal companies in Iho province find their resources severely taxed to meet th? increased demand for cosil that has (afeca place during the past eoup'o of' weeks. MEETING AT WAIHI. . . IBy Xcle.Eraph.-Pre.*B v , Waihi, May 2,i. There is no fresh, development tw r#« pu-ds Uie strike. AV a 4o»Btliy mass meeting to-day, disappointment was expressed that no news had Iwn received from Wellington. Nothing of importance was discussed. • ATTITUDE OF FEDERATION. The execntive of the New Zealand, Federation of Labour, in whose hands full control of the Waihi dispute has been vested, met on Saturday. Tho Federation states that all reports as to internal dissension and backing-down an!' abKif lutcly without foundation, and that' tha action taken by tlie. Waihi nien has tho full endorsement, of (ho executive. Tho executive also denies (lie statement, that I it is calling "off" the strike on Monday morning. : [Kefevencos to tho strike will be round in tho official report of (lie confercnoo of the Federation of. Labour, published in another part of this issue.] POSITION AT REEFTON. BELIEF IVOI'KS. Reefton, May 2A, • There are- no further developments in - cnmicction with tho mining trouble. The Minister far Mines has telegraphed to , the County Council, that Cabinet, will consider the question of relief works. Sir, lagan, secretary of tha Minors'! Union, is still in Wellington. ' The men arc holding sports on Wednesday next.

' " ' Reefton, May 26. , Government assiptsnco has been promised for the relief of the men thrown out at Waiuta mid Here. A good many, men have already gone away. Seventeen hayo been taken on at the Westport end of the railway works. There ar# ftill a very large number of men wonting work. ' There is no change in fho situation. The company seems still fii'm,' and the' men .as lij'm. As far as can ba found there is no sympathy whatever with the Waiiii strikers, in fact, strong indignation is expressed at the West ' Coast correspondent of (lie Christcliurcli "Press 1 for printing a -statement that there is collusion between the Waihi • miners and those at Krefton. The other mines ore still unaffected,