WAIHI AND ELSEWHERE.

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

WAIHI AND ELSEWHERE.

SOME LIVELY SCENES. STAND-UP FIGHT AT WAIKINO. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) „ . , Walhi, August 30. Several lively scenes are reported from Waikino in connection with tho appear°f a few of the Waihi Company's if 'l lß ' township yesterday. It is stated that attempts at intimidation woro' indulged m during the day. Thcro was no interference while the men wero nt work, the reason being that they were on privato property, from which trespassers ore rigorously barred; but it is stated that on their way to lunch and ill the train in the afternoon the employees had a lively time, 6onie of tho epithets used lwing characterised as insulting and offensive. The .same tiling happened on tho arrival of one, at least, of tho employees in Wailn last night. Ho was followed from tho train to a point noar to tho mine, and compelled to listen to remarks the reverse of complimentary. It is understood that tho polieo took no action. On the strength of a report that a number of arbitratiouists were coming from Auckland to work at Waikino, a party of strikers engaged nil tho available beds in tho township, with, tho object of cornering accommodation. Arbitrationists at Waikino aro holdin" the fort, tho attoippt at intimidation ha-v' ing so far had no cffect. A stand-up figlit between an arbitrationist and a federationist took place at Waikino this morning. QUESTION OF AGREEMENT. Auckland, August 30. Mr, Rhodes, who presided at the Now Zealand Gold Mineowners' Association, made a statement to a press representative, in which he said that during a recent visit to Wailii ho gathered that, there exists an impression that the min-' ing companies will not start work in the mines till after an agreement has been made with n union registered under the Arbitration Act. Though it is quite true that no agreement will be made with any union or federation not registered midor the Arbitration Act, said Mr, Rhodes, the mineowners purposely left it open for miners to start work without any agreement whatever if tliev thought fit. AYhon sufficient miners offer to work without any agreement Hie probability is that their desire will be favourably considered. "There is no special virtue in an agreement which men will not abide by; hence we do not at present regard necessity for agrcomeut. as a very burning question," said Mr. Rhodes.