WAIHI.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1565, 8 October 1912, Page 5

WAIHI.

THE FIFTH DAY OF WORK. PROPOSED MOVE. twenti-four not-RS" strike. (By Tclcgraph.-SDcclal Correspondent.) Auckland, October 7. It now seems highly improbable that tlio one day's cessation ot Work" arranged by the executive of the Federation ot Jxiboiir as a protest against tho imprisonment of the Wnihi strikers will be a success. Not a single union in Auckland is unanimous in favouring the stoppage of work either under the soft title ot "cessation of work," or under tho blunter one of "strike." . The only union which has affirmed its intention of coming out i.s the Waterside Workers Union, and it is freelv reported that this union is affected by serious dissension, and that a large number of the members will work on Thursday as ii nothing had been decided. It litis been, staled that the opposition to the "day off" ins been so great that an attempt has been made to take a secret ballot to decide whether (ho previous decision of the union should be carried out, but some, who aro in touch, with the union's business, say that that step cannot well bo ■taken. Such a ballot, it is said, cannot 1)0 taken except upon a majority vote of a meeting of tho union, and no meeting lias wen held to consider the proposal, unless it wero quite nn informal one. It is quite likely that a number of the waterside workers will abide bv tho decision to stop work, even though the rest go on, but there is a strong feeling among the union, and in other quarters as well, that tho Federation, by making the demand for a "cessation," is simply feeling the pulse of the various unions. Accompanying this is the idea that the Federation of Labour has made a blunder, and that the result of the present negotiations is betraying tho weakness of (lint body. It is supposed that <i one-day stoppage would, if generally agreed to, be taken by (he reiteration as a sign that (he unions would follow iU instructions if it called n general strike. Those who take this view arc, in their own minds, fairly satisfied that more than lias alrcadv happened is needed to show that, in "Auckland at least, it will be of little u«e ior the executive to call a general strike unless there is a revulsion of feeling. The people of Auckland, outside the various business offices, arc probablv chiefly interested in tho question whether I'lio 'Iramwajs Union is going to take its dictation from the Federation. It has not been serion-ly feared that it would, and the present indications aro that tho men have no good reasons for slopping work on Thursday, but very good reasons for going on as usual. In tho first place each member who strikes, without giving a fortnight's notice of his intention to do .so, is linblo to a fine of ,£25, and that is regarded by most of them as a quite sufficient ronson for.hesitation, especially as it is now fairly understood that, legally, such a cessation of work would certainly constitute a strike. liven those tramway men who are not averse to striking for tho cause hold that the i6suo at stake now is too trilling, and say that, if there is to be a strike, it .should be a real strikenot a half-way measure only. One other union in Auckland is direct- ' Iy concerned in the question—the brewery employees' organisation. This union ha's definitely decided not to have anything tc do with- the scheme. PROPOSED CESSATION. ißy Tclograph.-Prcss Association.! Auckland, October 7. The General Labourers' Union canned a resolution without dis-sent agreeing to a 21 hours' cessation of work, proposed by the Federation as a protest against the imprisonment of the Wnihi strikers. LEFT GAOL. . Auckland, October 7. One of tho Wnihi miners imprisoned for not giving a surety to keep the peace, left gaol; aftor two weeks' detention, tho required sureties having been provided. MORE INFORMATIONS LAID. Waihl, October. 7. Non-workers and women in different parts of Wnihi were early astir to-day. Long before the hour for stnrting at the urines, knots.of people ossembled in places whero they expected to see tho workers. As soon as'tno vehicles containing Iho j workers enmo in sight, tho' women, who were in the majority, sprang into activity, and a chorus of boo-hooing emanated from them. As the vehicles passed, mixed expressions of feeling were manifested by the different factions. When the brake, with thirty odd workers, crossed the street, a number of well-known loyalists cheered heartily. Tho whistle at tho Grand Junction mine sounded this morning-, for the first time since tho commencement of the strike, and several men responded to the call. They are to bo engaged at the powerhouse. Workers nt Waikino ore having an easy time with the pickets, being in a vast majority there. Twenty-four informations have been laid against persons in'connection with recent demonstrations. A man named Meagher was arrested this morning on a charge of using obscene language and following. An official statement was supplied to-day by tho Miners' Union. It states that tho additional number of men who resumed work to-day is thirteen, of whom six aro actual underground workers. Four other men have had underground experience, but arc prevented from working below for health reasons. Seven members of the union have started, of whom two are claimed by tho union lo bo uiifinaticial.