WAIHI STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1496, 19 July 1912, Page 5

WAIHI STRIKE.

ffHE FEDERATION BALANCE-SHEET. A; ; mas3 meeting of .members of tho Waibj Minors' and Workers' Union was hold'in. tho Union Hall on Tuesday (Mr. W. M'Lennan in the chair) to reccivo tho .reports of the delegates (Messrs. Parry and'i'Kennedy) who attended the recent conference,'of tho Labour Federation'at Wellington. Thero were between 300 and 400 'members present. When tho question of approving the balance-sheet of the Federation was raised,,* objections were offered by several members, who contended that tho allow-' snoD made to delegates attending tho Wellington Conference (£1.125.-6(1. per day), was -altogether too high. Tho objectors having entered their protests, Mr. Parry then-stated that he had himself referred to-.tho matter at the conference, but nothing wee done. Exception • was also taken to an item of ,£llo'paid to the organiser'(Mr. R. Bemple) ( in connection with' his tour of Australia. -Mr. Parry pointed ' out that the amount included Ah\. ; 'Semple.'s salary. ;.plotter was read from 'Mr. M. Faean, (secretary of the Reefton Miners' Union, explaining a telegram sent out by him, askiafc members of Labour Unions to withhold judgment on the justness of the resJpectdve dispute until further information, was available. Certain unions outside; the Federation had contributed towards the funds, on, condition that ..none, of tho money -.went to Waihi, as they,did not think the strike there was justified. These moneys had been retufnpd.'with tho intimation that the Rceftori ahoulder to shoulder with tho Wa,ihi strikers. A' ; communication was read from the secretary of the Federation (Mr. Glover), i reUtive to sending delegates to -Australia t6/;fedlicdt strike funds. .. Hβ pointede out that.outside help was -necessary, ns'tbA Dominion contributions' .only- totalled abiJut £700 weekly, whereas .£1(100 was required to; meet the wants of the Waihi and;'Reefton men. . ~ {Prior to the meeting, it wee freely stat'ed'thata notice of motion was to: be tabbed favouring the withdrawal of the anion , : from the Labour Federation. The mitter wa9 not, however, brought torfrard, and it is understood that these who , - had the matter in hand decided to idefer action, >until a futuro date, with theobject of soliciting further support.

. ;.v APPEAL TO THE PREMIER. : ThY strike was the main topic of disxnssion at Tuesday night's meeting . of th«f\Waihi Chamber of Commerce. Tho subject was. introduced by Mr. W. E. BuSchj'who held that the strike had.gone far.'.enough, and that the Chamber should approach tho Prime Minister with a view to- a";settlement. Much discussion eneuid.*' The following Vosolution was unjiniiiionsly adopted:-"That this Chamber Yesdeetfully requests the .Prime Minister to , take such steps as. will bring abftut a speedy. and amicable 'settlement in regard to the present unsatisfactory' state of affairs in Waihi as a consequence of theTstrike." It was decided that copies W the resolution be sent to the member TorOhinemuri and the Hon. W. Hemes.

(By Talesraiili.-Preeß Araoola.tion.l ' 'V'-.: ' Gisborne, July 18. The general labourers' Union to-night iflwnded to vote .£lO to the Waihi and Reef ton strike funds. The following roKllition was carried with.enthusiasm:— •'"That this/union is with the miners Jieirt end soul in the struggle against opbression..and.express the hope that their fight will.be brought to a successful and fejeedy issue." .....