THE WAIHI POSITION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1556, 27 September 1912, Page 8

THE WAIHI POSITION.

NEW UNION ON FOOT. DELEGATES MEET EMPLOYERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Waihi, September 26. A deputation, consisting of delegates of tho- new Union to be registered under tha Arbitration Act, waited upon the representatives of the Waihi Coitapany, Gtaud Junction', and Extended. Gold Mining Companies this afternoon and received'.a definite assurance that the present rata of' wage would not bo altered pending the drawing up of a formal agreement regis-. tared under tlio Arbitration Act. _ They received a courteous hearing and several, matters wero discussed boaring upon the position of tho new Union on tho recognised voioo of the manual, workers in tho Oliinemuri mining industry. Members of the deputation keenly resented- the assertion of I'cderationists that the union was tho "Company's Union," assarting that the new Union was formed ' solely on their own initiative. The new Union is about 100 strong, and it is'understood that tho number wul be largely augmented by tho end of tha month. Mr. T. Walsh, secretary of tho Auckland Council of the United Labour Party, addressed the new Union at Waikino ou Wednesday on the benefits of arbitration, methods, in settling disputes. Mr. Walsh, interviewed, said that tho registration of this union marked a' turning point in tlio history of tho labour movement, in' New Zealand, and indicated that the workers of New Zealand had- found that the strike method was not'a satisfactory way of bettering workers' con. ditions. Strikers were only : tho . weapons of the 1.W.W., and tho action of tho Waihi. men in repudiating tlieir tactics was the fororuuner of tho ultimate disappearance of the I.W.W. as an active factor in New Zealand industrial matters. , FEDERATION BACKERS. Whangaroi, September 2G. At a public ineetihg at Kirinaka tha followirigresciltitjon was adopted: "That! this meeting, of ivi'ripaka workers demands tho immediate Please of tho Waihi .strikers iii gaol, w'hoso-only itfimo is loyalty to thoir.own class.- This nioothife also congratulates whole-heartedly the militant spirit displayed,.and the fact that they preferred to bo thrust into prison rather than submit to the machinations of capi-< talist hirelings." . A( meeting of the Miners' Union also cartel the. following resolution: "That. this union has every oonfidenco ill tho Federation: of Lribonr, and is prepared to adhere to any decision reirariling concerted action, on which the federation may do. oide." THE REEFTON POSITION." Reefton., September 2G. The Consolidated Goldfiolds Company applied at the Warden's Court for a further protection for four months, The Warden. (Mr.-J. G V L. Hewitt) was disinclined to grant protection, 'stating'.'that the Matter lay in tho hands of tho Arbitration Court, which' to-morrow would, ap. point an arbitrator at Wellington. Mr. Lawry, solicitor for tho company, asked for tho protection to be maae operative at once; Tho Miners' Union had intihiated that the men would not abid< by ■ any- decision hostile to their- interests, and the magistrate-consequently referred tho application to tho. Arbitration Court for. tlio appointment. of an arbitrator: Tlio Warden refused 'to grant' j protection until he knew the result of ' tha Arbitration Coutt's sitting - to-morrow, aild .accordingly, adjourned tho oase till the result was known. - Other applications were similarly dealt with. ' "HORRIBLE AND FILTHY." Reefton, September 2G. In a caso in which I". Phelan was - charged with abusing two free labourers in a livery stable, tho accused's solicitorraised the point that a livery stable was not a public place within tho meaning of tho Act. Tho Magistrate,, Mr. Hewitt,-,sai(} it had,/ been proved ' conclusively '■ a'ccus6d had: ' uttered strong, horrible, filthy language; This was tho first ( case arising out of tho labour dispute, arid he v warned anyone , again coming before him on such a' chargo that ho intended making tho penalty heavy. The conduct of tho Reefton.* men had been most exemplary, and they would realise the damage done to their caiise by vilo and filthy-language. Another caso was adjourned for further evidence. THE WATERSIDE STRIKE IDEA. For some timo past a number of carriers, watersiders, and others havo been ■tolling their friends that a general'etriko of watersiders, in sympathy with Waihi, was likely. The willingness or unwillingress, of Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttolton was discussed, and reports agreed that Dunediiv was the most unlikely place .to "come out." Inquiries were mado among members of tho Wellington Watorsido Union, and the general ettcot of tho answers are given All/'stated that they had received rio word concerning the proposal; Some members wero .emphatic, airl stated their objections in plain language. For instance,, one membe'.' of tho unio l said "You can bet your lifo that wo will not strike. Wa. are on -a good wicket now, and tho • busy season is coming on. A strike i 3 no good to us." ' ' Further inquiries indicated' that unionists in Westport and district wero to cease work to-morrow for tho purpose of holding a meeting to discuss things in connection with tho;Waihi trouble. At first it was said'that tlio. miners on the West Coast-were going to-strike,-'but this also proved to be without definite foundation. Tho -fact appears to .bo that as far oa this part of the rumoui' is concerncd, tha Wellington watersiders are . considerably in the dark. • ■ In general connection with Waihi, Mr. Glover, of tho Federation of Labour, r©ceived coblo advico yesterday stating that the workers at Port Adelaide, -South Australia, had voted JG2OO towards tho Waihi strike funds. It was further stated that the miners at tho Wdnthaggi .-State coal mines had agreed to a levy of 5 per cent. being struck on their wages, for the samo purpose. Mr. Webb, president: of. the Fednration of Labour, who is at present in South Australia ■ was instrumental in obtaining, tho money. ' A certificate of registration , under the Arbitration Act was issued, yesterday afternoon to tho new union ; formed in Waihi. It is officially designated'"Tho Ohinemuri Mines, and Battory Employees' fother than engineers, engine-drivers, and firemen) Industrial Union of Workers,"