A VERY CRITICAL STAGE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1533, 31 August 1912, Page 4

A VERY CRITICAL STAGE.

LABOUR MATTERS AT HUNTLY. (By Toliiraph.—Press Association.! Auckland, August 80. With regard to tho movement that is afoot in Huntly with reference to tlio formation (under the Arbitration Act) ot an Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Union as a separate organisation from tho Waikato Minors' Union, the secretary of tho latter body (Mr. J. E. Duncan) said (hat so far as tho Miner's' Union was concerned it had not been notified by tho enginedrivers ol' any intention of tho latter to secedo from t'lio existing union. Tho majority of them, ho said, wero in favour of tho Federation of Labour and of adhering to tho Waikato Miners' Union. A prominent engine-driver, who is one of tho leaders of the secession movement, made a candid statement this morning ot his point of new. Tho engine-drivel's and fircoion were determined to break away, he said. Their reason was that they - desired their freedom. They had no wish to cause trouble, but they had no sympathy whatever with the Federation of Labour or tho> I .WAY, methods. Tho Socialist party, ho continued, were continually preaching against compulsion so far as military training was concorued, but they used Iho same compulsion in this instance, declaring that mm who desired their freedom must belong to the union. Notice of the engine-drivers' withdrawal from the Waikato Miners' Union will go in either to-morrow or Monday. The general feeling in Huntly is that matters have reached a very critical 6tago and that it is very doubtful if the present tension can bo withstood much longer.