THE REEFTON MINERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1480, 1 July 1912, Page 6

THE REEFTON MINERS.

SHIFT BOSSES STOPPED. STOIiMY- SOKNKS AT MINE MOUTH. (liy Telegraph.—l'rcss Association.) Reefton, June 20. Further developments regarding the working t>l (he Energetic mine have occurred. The shift bosses who were working in (lie Kuergetic mini; were met. tin's inoniiii-,' by thu refusal of the enginedriver* to lower them. The shift bosses were workiiijr 'Hie popper or Wauyh drill single-lunde-l. Slorniv scenes occurred at the mouth of the 'mine. The engine-drivers, however, were linn, anil the shift bosses had to return without working. There was a iiieMing of the enginedrivers last night. (.Inly the enginedrivers on the Energetic mine struck. The engine-drivers here are iu a peculiar position; some are nienilxTS of the Kn-gine-drivers' Association and the Miners' I'nion, others belong to one or the other body. MASS MEETING. (By Tctcßrapli.-Press Association.) Reefton, June 29. A large mass meeting of miners was held to-day. 'J he proceedings were not open to the pre-s, but it is understood that the meeting appreciated tho action of the engine-drivers at the Energetic mine ..uul discussed (lie linaiiciii! position. A good number of men from Blackwatcr were present. 'n A ISESOLI'TION. Westport, June 29. The Hiiller Council of the Federation of Labour made the following .resolution at its (|iiarterly mooting to-day: "That this council, representing unions affiliated with the federalism of Labour in the Duller district, heartily endorses the ■action of the executive of the Federation relative to the M'aihi strike, anil the Reefton lock-out and hereby pledges its various organisations to support, morally and financially, any action that inov be deemed necessary to attain n working ela-s victory. Further, we, oil behalf of your organisations assure our comrades of our most sincere fellowship in their fight for huniiine conditions." If is authoritatively stated that the feeling of the miners in this district is very favourable to a general strike in sympathy with AVailii and Rcpl'lon, and that the leaders nre experiencin;; some difficulty in kjepiug the strike spirit in check.. FEDERATION IX A FIX. THE APPEAL TO AUSTRALIA. Finding Iliad it cannot gel the assistance of New Zealand unionists to help it

I out of ilVpres.-nf difficulties, caused by Um! strike at Waihi and the deadlock at Kceft'jn, tlic Federation of Labour is milking n strenuous appeal for aid in Australia. Jn the course of a manifesto issued (o Australian unionists, die federation says that..'.'at the present lime ii bitter warfare is raging in' ±\ow Zealand against militant labour organisation and unionism. The fight just now is central at" the. goldfields of Waihi and Keeiton, in the North and South Islands respectively; 2000 men bring on sttike or locked out. Briefly/ the men are fighting for ths right to refuse to work with a "seal)' niion (knowing that this would imperil all solidarity and working-class principle), anil nlso ngaiii't the compulsory lisa of the 'popper' by one miner instead in two (knowing (hat this '.«ne«liii»-ii|>' means increased risk of minors' phthisis niw increased danjjcr to life and limb" In addition, the men are opposing the J.'u-n 1 ' '"'IT' 1,10 ' 10 " " r tllc «"'<>«>ntract.' Without the a.s-iViante of AtMrniiin unionists." tlu> manifesto continued, "the iiglifc cannot l;e ivoii." The manfelo is signed bv Mr. V C Wohh. president, and Mr. 'J. Glover' secretary. ' It is mentioned that Mr. I'. If. Hiekcv, siiu-cditor of the "Maoriland Worker'" bus boon appointed to canvas, for aid in Australia. KATTAXGATA THOITIT.TC. (Bj Tclegrapli.-Press Associations . , „ , Dunedin, June 29. A deadlock somewhat akin tii the Waihi mmid eis thrcatonoil amongst the TCailangata coal-miners, whose nivnnl expires to-morrow. v There has l,mi n split in the colliers' «!iii|>, whiclMs divided into three actions described colloquially as "Arbitrationists, Mioderatiouists," and "l!ail-sitle.rs." fcach of the two organised bodies claims to have a inajorilv, and each has prepare:! a schedule, of demands. The union is in favour of arbitration, and has submitted its reference to the owners. The union seeks, fairly reasonable concessions, averaging an increase of one shilling per day all round. The I'etlerntionUta have prepared their demands; but have not submitted them to tho masters. Thev seek a little nipije, but nothing of a sensational nature. For shift men they a-k 1-is. (id. per <hiy, wliereas the iirbirrationists seek Us. That is the most marked dillerenee beiwtvn fh - e rival demnmls. Jioth sides admit that tho present daily wage of hewers averages close on fifteen shillings. It is expected that .the unattached party, known as "Hail-sitters," will .support the union that gains the best terms. J he problem before the owners, who aro put iua cleft stick as it were, is: "Which union will they recognise as official:-" The miners say there is no necessity for a strike, but fear trouble through the division of forces,. Meanwhile Dunedin folk, with characteristic caution, are layiii" in stocks of Knitangiita coal.