WAIHI & ELSEWHERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1535, 3 September 1912, Page 5

WAIHI & ELSEWHERE.

NEW SYLVIA MINE

TROUBLE BEGUN AXD ENDED, (By Telegraph.-Prese Association.) ,' Thames, September 2. • Trouble lias occurred at tins New Sylvia mine, lit Tiirarii, tn-ilny, when the men censed work. It is staled Hint tho troublo has arisen over tin- ciiiplovinont of a membnr 01 , llio lipv.ly-foimod'Waihi Mim> En(,'iinwllivers' Union.

The man in question was employed in tilt , liallory,, wiiuro no steam power*is boinj; iimml. It is said that lie joined the Thames Miner- , Union on Saturday ni K ht. The men In-day decided to cense work —"not for sli'ikc," explained one, "but to have a holiday so that a certain mutter could lie. ilis;eiis.-eil."

Tin , directors of (he. New Sylvia mine telegraphed I" the Miners' Union at tie Thames as lullows:—"The Thames Miners' Union being a union uuilr.r tin- Arbilration Act, tlie directors will hold it resjmn-iblo for any strike because of (ho employment of men belonging to another union. Tlie directors cauuot discrimiu"ate." SETTLED. Thames, September 2. The difficulty at tin . New Sylvia mine at Tnraru, near Thames, has been overcome. The Waihi engine-driver, to whoso employment objection wan raised, joined the Thames Miners' Union and will obtnin his clearance from Ihe Waihi Union. This has satisfied tho men, who will resumo work to-morrow morning. THE MATTER EXPLAINED. (By Tcleßraph.—Preß3 Association.! Auckland, September 2. Tho position, taken up by the thirteen engine-drivers who havo seceded from the Waikato Miners' Union was explained to a reporter this morning by one of tho drivers concerned. He stated that there were 29 engine-drivers, and tliat thirteen of these had already joined the. Waihi Engine-drivers' Union. Eleven of these, had been members of the Waikato Miners' Union, and had font in their resignations to the latter bo.dy. Any informality in the method of their resignation would be rectified, and three months' fees would bo forwarded in lieu of the notice of resignation required by the union. These men did not recognise any power which the union claimed to have to impose levies. The first trouble started when the union's executive imposed tho ten per cent, levy asked for the Federation Strike Fund, and the names of the ten men who refused to pay were posted up as defaulters by the union secretary. Tho samo informant declared that tho other sixteen engine-drivers were >mly held back from joining the new union by methods of intimidation which, ho said, were employed by the executive of tho Miners' Union. WILD STORIES. Waihi, September 2. Several wild stories had Veen in circulation in regard to the position at Waikino, where the Waihi Compauy is taking on men. Rumours of disturbances and ing have been raised in Waihi, but inves- , ligation shows that they arc groundless. Oil Saturday, one man was harassed by. tho strikers but tho police came to ins assistance, and the crovjtl dispersed, after bein" warned. The railway line and stations, are bring picketed by striker?, but 60 far no disturbance has occurred. DRIVER'S LETTER. BEFORE CHAMBER, O.F COMMERCE. At the meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber, of Commerce, held yesterday, a letter (dated August 7) was received from tho secretary of the executive of tho Waihi Engine-drivers' .Defence Fund'(F. Ames Neill). The, letter read as follows:—

"At a meeting of the executive of the Waihi Engine-drivers' Defence Fund, held yesterday, it was decided to confer with your chamber as to whether you would be prepared to distribute amongst jour members copies of the circular wo aro issuing in the Auckland Province appealing for support from tho public to tho funds for distribution to the members ( of the Engine Drivers' Union during the timo of the strike. A copy of the circular which we nre issuing I oncloso you herewith. It sets forth full particulars of the objects of tho fund, j shall be pleased to hear from you at as early a date as possible as to whether the scheme meets with the approvnl of your chamber, and if. so, how many copies yon would requiro for distribution." The chairman stated that there was sympathy with the men, but he did not know whether the chamber should tike up such a matter.

Sir. Thos. Bnllinger was of opinion that the chaniber should support tho movement, 1 and that tho circulars should be gent >tO' all members.

Mr. C. .tones thought that (his wsis a highly political matter. It was an attempt to break the power of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, and ho was of opinion that, as a chamber of commerce, they should leave it alone. If they' wished to circularise the members, a list could be sent to the secretary. That should meet the case.

thin found Mr. Ballinger in disagreement, nk- view of the matter was that it was a ens. , in which u legally-constituted union wan opposed by a non-legal body, who wished to stop the work at the mines. Ho thoiife'H that the movement deserved tfio support of all employers of labour. It. was finally decided to send a list of tho members of the chamber to tho secretary of the Waihi Engine-drivers' Defence League. No further action was tnken.,