WAIHI—THE STRUGGLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1489, 11 July 1912, Page 4

WAIHI—THE STRUGGLE.

IRON. FRONT TO FEDERATION.

(By Telceraph—Press Association.) , ( Waihi, July 10. The attitudo of the mining companies at Waihi towards tho Labour Federation; coupled with recent developments between tho Northern Steam Sliip Company and'tho watorsido workers and ooal-ownors ati Kaitangata goes to show tho determine tion on tho part of employers to stamp out tho Labour Federation. This being so there seems no prospect of an eal'ly solution to tho dispute here oa tho men are still inclined to bolster up this moribund organisation, and will etand. I out until track time as tho striko funds are exhausted. „

It has been authoritatively elicited tlwt there is no possibility of tho local minea being opened with men associated with tho Federation of Labour. Possible damage by water in tho mines does not enter into tho question. Tho water is not likely to rise to No. 10 level in Waihi this side of Christmas and, when it does, it lws been authoritatively stated that "precious little liarm" will lie done, and it will tnko a year before it rises sufficiently to do any matorial damage.- When work is resumed it will tako two days' pumping for every day tho mine is idle, and consequently, only comparatively fewmen could bo employed for some time, and months must necessarily elapse before tho mines could bo fully manned. It is gonorally admitted that there ia no plaoo in the world where the conditions of labour are so good as ill Waihi. Tho avorago earnings of contractor* throughout tho mines, prior to the strike, was fifteen shillings a day, and it is claimed that their" earnings are higher in Waihi than in any part ol New Zealand. With regard to ourrent contracts at tho time of the strike tho oontractors liavo forfeited tho right to resume, the striko having given tho companies tho legal right to cancel all contracts. Tho men broke tho contract agreement by absenting themselves from work.