"GO SLOW" MINERS IN COURT
:HAZING DISCLOSURES
RE?ELATIONS IN UNION CORRESPONDENCE
HOW AGITATORS " WORKED" THE MEN
CROWN'S' CASE OPENED
'-.J'"' /'(Specialto; Tub Dommion.) ■ , Auckland, April 23. . 'Oases against-..c0al miners arrested fet Huntly and the West Coast in connection with the. "go-slow" policy were v; commenced in the Police Court to-day. ■Mr. V; R. Meredith,' of Wellington, ... ."Urown solicitor, conducted tho prosecution, and Mr. R. A. .Singer •represent.;ed aU. 0 f the accused. The first charge taken wag against John Jones, •president of the N.Z. Federated Coaltone Workers' Union, and the other .defendants'were- romanded till Thttfs- ,: «ay. Jones was charged that ho did, at Huntly and elsewhere in. the Dominion, conspire with.Joseph O'Brien, JonnArbuckle, Thomas Frasor, John ...Uumming, and John Winuard to on-I courage continuance of a seditious -strike at Huntly. ' ' r la fto course of his address, ;Mr. Meredith- stated that the prosecution .;Waa one of a series of.charges that ...aad been laid under the War Regulations of February. 16,1917, made under a t P ro £ lßlons .'O f the ".War. Regulations ■iAot. By reason of the charges, vari<ous men had been arrested:in various ■? coal, centres of New Zealand. Tho "shell woro arrested! simultaneously, and all documents and minute-books and ■correspondence of the' particular unions of which they were members and ruling spirits . had been seized. Tho • charge was indeed a sorious one, and ;the nature of it was this: For a considerable period there had been a restriction of coal output in the various -•.Mines of New Zealand. The injury to the community generally and to the nation was obvious and far reaching. -There was first tho minor consideration of the grave inconvenience to the 'individual members of this community Ay reason.of..tho inability to get coal, namely, cutting down trains, steam■*<ers, and,; if: tho strike continued,' tho ; ultimate stoppage of trains, trams, _ii§ht, and tho crippling of all industries which, depend on coal for their •existence, and the -throwing'out of employment of all the people connected
With those particular., industries; : Further, if these .men were to he able to achieve their object - and' resume normal work only on their own terms, the forcing of the price of coal up to such an ostent that would be almost prohibitive to'ordinary users. The greater injury, however, is to national efficiency. ' -~-.;-.. * in Time of England's Peril. •' "England is in. a time of great peril," continued' Mr. Meredith. ''Germany is attempting to subdue England 6y means of a submarine campaign. England requires food. ' This country ' •has been supplying, and can still supply, largo quantity's... of wool, meat, ; butter, and : cheese, but to do this requires cOaL. Without coal the freezing ; Works must; stop./' Transport, in JS T ew - Zealand itselMs hainpeted, and the < transport of food::supplies and men ■ .<from hero to the assistance of Eng- : y-land is .not only hampered, but will i ■:■ ultimately cease, andl_ the devilish in- ; genuity of this' Conspiracy is to take ■ fldvantagvbftneif'position of national ; danger tp obtain'.objects which-1 shall i .disclose later.;:";'.". v !
'..The first" ingredient of the case is : -- A managers of tho ;,.following. jnineß.:—Huntly, Waipa, •Pukemiro, Denniston, State, Stockton, -Paparoa, and Blackball. These gentlemen will produce tbd records of those. '' : Hiines to-snow that : 'from a certain day ... in. each mino there was a clean-cut ' drop'in 6utpiit by the men, though .... 'Working.under the .sanie conditions as ' 'formerly., .'I-will; later on, show how ■;-,■th& 'go Blow' was engineered in the various mines, but it will; be convenient'here .to briefly sketch, the comvmehcement. method;.and resnlt of. this : *«cti6n v bn-the^arf-of the- miners; ' ...,. V How the Earnings Fell. "The average normal earnings takon. - I&ver'the previous six nlohths prior to the 'go Glow' period was as under: — .Huntly, 15s: Gd.; Waipa, 205.; Puke'miro, 16s. (5d.; Denniston, 18s. 2d.; State (Point Elizabeth) 20s. aiidi(LiverA60I), 17s. lOd.; Stockton. 18s. 6d.; /Paparoa, 225. 2d.: Blackball, 18s. 9d. , :-These. wages are bank-to-bank, which •Sieans from 5i to 7 hours' actual work "flaily.' ■■ As a result of previous arrangements among cortain union officials the 'go Slow' started at Huntly on January 30. This was effected 1)y fl6t allowing the men to earn moro than lis. a day, plus a war bonus of ■10 per cent. The actual' red notion ■:.-y/as for each man to fill six skips, or irucks, per day. On February 2 ■'•■'go slow' started at Waipa mine, and the reduction was do'llo with a nicety and exactitude that is in itrclf' an absolute proof of the strike. Bach pair of 'inenwera reduced to a definito amount of sixteen skips por day. In all mines earnings always vary considerably amongst individual miners, going up in some cases to .02 9s. 6d. per day. '.. Mow we havo in Waipa every man on a
Jqw output absolutely equal. lit Puke- • tiiiro the 'go slow' started on February 3. On tho West Coast it started on •February 12 at tho following mines :— State mines at Dunolloy and Rowanui, ..Blackball mino, Paparoa inino, and . XJorfniston mine. The restriction placed " On all these mines was to rcduco the output of each miner so that be would only earn 12s. exclusive of war bonus, fir '13s. 3d. witlt it. Tho drop bore by comparison with average earnings ' at these mines, as I indicated before, "■abdws the decided restriction in output. Croat Loss of Goal. "At Stockton the restriction was on -from February 19,'0n oxactly similar ■lines. Now the result of all this is ■■'■' that thoro is an averago drop of output ; in these mines as under tor a fortnight's work:—Euntly, 1532; Waipa, 926; Pukemiro, 742; State tivorpool, 1630; State Point Elizabeth, 1620; Paparoa, 700; Blackball, 1700; Denniston, ' 2400; Stockton, 2570; total, . 13,900. In other words thoro was a. loss to' this c6untry of C 950 tons of coal per week, or of 320,000 tons per year of 46 working weeks. As tho conditions wore tlio same before tho restriction commenced and after it commenced, it is perfectly obvious that the result is that of promeditated'and /concerted action. Prior to its institution, tlio miners always were complain- . I'iig of the truckers not supplying sufficient trucks, impeding them in their • output. From now, never a coniplafolt, "though they are receiving half their
quantity. When asked by .managers, 'Are .you getting enough trucks?' tho reply is always, 'Yes, plenty.' At 8.30 m the morning men aro seen sitting' down on tho road close to the shaft, no attempt being.mado to get to their places. , Sabotage Attempted, "Sabotage was attempted in at least ono mine at Huntly. Trucks were frequently derailed by means of packages of coal in brattice cloth being placed on the rails, and on onu' occasion a man who had demanded a secret ballot and generally resisted the -schomo found, after/going to pull out.tho stop and let 'more trucks bo lowered down, ■, that someono had released the rope. If ho had not found it out in timo lie would probably havo been cut to bits, as the trucks would have dashed down the incline over him. Of course, ho could nob detect who it was, but, on expostulating, was told ho would be thrown'in the sump. Trucks were let loose on. other occasions,, destroy-, ing tho brattice screpns. "A tfiioker tells a deputy, 'I would give the mou more trucks, but the other truckers won't let rne. They told mo to go steady. If I were to give more skips it would do them a lot of-harm.' Sihii-' larly in Waipa, the men aro observed laughing and joking, taking tho whole thing as' a joke; men not working after 3 p.m. Certain raon'asked: why they don't fill more trucks reply, 'No, we are not going to fill .them.. If wo do we will bo scabbing.'...They...do not consider a man with a family very much. ■ ' ' '
"That all this is so is abundantly proved by the evidence of tho correspondence taken when the men were arrested. This correspondence is considerable. Just as this typo of man is a voluble speaker, he also is a voluminous writer. Though they have not been diligent workers, they-certainly have been diligent correspondents.'-.. A Startling State of Affairs. "Correspondence will disclose a condition of affairs which, the genoral publio Of this country would •-hardly have deemed possible to have, existed. The whole plot is exposed, and also the names of those parties by, whom it was engineered, and the qbjoofcof their conspiracy. The veil behind which militant labour act' is lifted, and tho doquments produced disclose a condition which would bo a grave menace, oven in ordinary circumstanfces—a menace not only to the general community, but tto the men- whom theso leaders are supposed to befriend, but in the times through which wo are now passing a menace also to national efficiency so serious as in effect to amount to nothing short of treason.' ,At this stage Mr. Singer interposed, and stated that he. was sure Mr. Mere--dith would agreo that the correspondence would disclose nothing to snowthat defendants were anti-conscription-ists. "There is no anti-conscription feeling or intention iii the'dispute or in the claims of tho men. Theso men hore have long ago, if ever they had any, abandoned opposition to tho law passed and in force in regard to conscription. The men before tho Court aro men who have strenuously opposed undoubtedly strong feeling among the miners against conscription, and their influence with tho men has been strenuously exerted to prevout a strike against conscription. 1 wish tho public to know that these-men had by their influence prevented, such a strike until the time when they were arrested, and their influence removed, when strong feeling among the miners against conscription had its Way and the strike occurred." '
Mr. Meredith replied that ho -was not prepared'to admit what'his friend had stated, and qorrespondence showed that the "go slow" was not started with a view to anti-coiiscription, but it did show many traces Of anti-con-scription feeling. Proceeding with his address, Mr. Meredith said: There will bo disclosed a picture of a few leaders arrogating to themselves the powers of dictators, deliberately setting .out to disturb industrial conditions at a timo when men are perfectly satisfied with tlloir position; A little coterie meeting-in .Wellington to hatch a scheme, each member of that cotorio returning to his •particular executive with the scheme, then finally tho meot-
iug oT tho men at which members (to ;quote tho words of 0116 of the leaders) 'full of fight, _ sway the meetings,' and the scheme is adopted. Tho schema of restriction then commences to operate; later, when it is found that the object intended to' be gained had not been achieved, dissatisfaction on tho part of the rank and file at tho position they had been put into by their le'adors, and finally the leaders desperately trying to retain their grip and reviling tho men and fighting amongst themselves. Who the Defendants Arc, ! "All theso unions concerned in the cases ate a/liliated to the New Zca■laud Federation of Coalminors, of which tho secretary is John Arbuckle, and the president is John Jones. Jones is also tho president of the Huntly Union. Arbucklo lives at Runanga, tho centre of industrial unrest in the South Island, and Jones- lives at Huntly, the main centre of the North island coal district. Jones ahd Arbuckle, in this particular coal strike, are tho two leading spirits. Other men deeply implicated will be before the Court in the various charges. Ilelson and Winpard are'tho secretary and presidont respectively of tho Denniston Miners' Union. O'Brien is the secretary of the Huntly Union, Jordan the vice-president, and Jlaloney a member of the executive.
Gumming, the secretary of the Te Akatea, Union, and Wintle acting-secre-•taj'y of tbo Pukemiro Union. These arfc- not tbo only men concerned, as will bo disclosed by tho correspondence. Their position will bo a matter for future consideration. "It is clear that there has been' unrest for some considerable time, and it is further clear that the leaders of this organisation will not allow any other condition to exist. "The Men Were Satisfied." "Now, according, to Arbuckle's own statement in August of last Year, tho men were satisfied with their conditions, so satisfied that it was a; matterfor serious grievance for Arbuckle necauso on August 24 ho wrifcos to Gumming, E&crotary to the.iW&ipa .Union;,
Things are. quiet down this way, the mines working every dny and the. men making good money, tho result being that they will take no interest in anything that don't disturb their pockets, not oven that when they havo to nay it in tho cost of living* and T. think the complaint is general to-day'—truly an unhappy state of things-for an agi-. tator. About this timo there was a. coal strike in Australia, and in connection with this strike thero aro two remarkable telegrams sent, one by Arbuckle to the Australian officials, and one in return. The, Containers' Federation were prepared to hang up tho coal industry of New Zealand irrespective of results, if it would oblige rnou in Australia. The telegram I refer to. as.remarkable is as follows:—'Wo have granted N.Z. Government permission load with • coal for for hospital ship and N.Z. troopships only. Wire immediately whether this wOl affect Australian position, and whether wo arc at liberty to agree to future supplies for such ships.—Arbuckle.'
"H was suggested by O'Horko, another leader, that in viow of tho strike . in Australia the production of coal in New ZealancTshould be, restricted-so as to reduce the available stocks in this country; The reason of this suggestion was that the minors would be in a position to at any moment fatally embarrass, the Government in their military opera-' tions by .having no'surplus stock of coal on which to work. Semplc in High Dudgeon. "A. suggestion to reduce the Blocks ' of coal in November and so cause a. coal famine, was dropped. However, .in December last the leaders moved again, and the arrangement entered into is not confined to the Federation of Coal Miners. The executive of tho Waterside Workers are a party to it. A watersidcr of Wellington arranges a meeting with Jones and Arbuckle. The coal miners are unfinancial. Holson writes that all the unions are bankrupt: About .this timo several of the agreements under which the various' unions wero working wero running out. In particular the Huntly agreement was terminating on December 19, and arrangements were proceeding quite amicably between tho Huntly "Union and the owners of the Huntly mines, with a view to making a fresh agreement, and all arrangements had been in train for a meeting between tho officials on the ono hand and the owners on the other to settle the terms of this, but - amicable agreements, .apparently,. ;aro :h'eresy..'.t6 " this ! Federation Executive. Illustrative of this, I will refer the Court to the remarks of Mr. Semple in a letter from Semple to Jones, which letter was found in. tho possession of Jones. iSemple bad been invited to attend a meeting held to form a Transport Workers' Advisory Board. To Mr. Somple's indignation, when he got tlfere, ho was not allowed to assume control, which was a position that a.gentleman of Mr.'Scrapie's temperament could never dream of allowing himself to submit to. Apparently he left in high dudgeon, and he sends a letter to Jones, as his president, reporting the position. . One of the objects .'of the franEso£« Workers' Advisory Board was- to- promote, a good understanding between employers and employees, and to advise and assist affiliated unions as to the best means of settling their disputes. Now, that object, to-the ordinary man, seems a coninion-sense, desirable.and admirable position for anybody to take up. Semple refers to it thus: 'I think you will agree
tion in Huntly, among tho hiiners, and \ again ksks about the Men of the Coast unions, saying ho must call it off at 1 Coppersmith, vice-president of. the New Zealand Federation, now takes a hand, and notifies Jones that the ', Coast' mines, aro'starting on Monday, ■ and that Arbucklo will write fully. Jones and O'Brien again join in joint ' wires, saying that the position in Hunt--1 ly is critical, and pressing about the ' action of the Coast unions. Arbuclile Explains his Delay. "On February 11 Arbucklo writes to Jones justifying himself.on the charge of delay, Ho. writes as. follows :— " 'Dear Comrade Jones,—ln reply to your letter whicir.l received all right, I have to congratulate you on your success in winning over Pukemiro to tho federation, also at a time when there was a fight on the board. In regard to the matter of our advice to unions to • restrict,.! cannot understand the attitude you tako up, when you" state that I was tho means of it not being on long ago, and tho reason was that 1 was not ontrusting some of tho work to Coppersmith or the executive members. You also slate that I wired you that Buller and the State .endorsed our notion, and, further, that tliero' was. no room for a misunderstanding, or, in other words, I was the one that was making a hash of things. Now, comrade, if I had started sending that sort of stuff over tho wires it might liavo led to a very big misunderstanding, and, as the thing appears at this end to-day, you acted in rather a hasty manner. Now let us go back to tho arrangement we made, and this is how I understand it. First, I was to go and put the position of tho miners in regard to a strike, and 6ur recommendation io the execiiiivc. If thoy agreed, then to have it put to the unions by executive, members or myself,. Next I ,Wos to put thig' proposal to tho executive, that in tho face ,of ovents that had happened to the watersiders with their meeting with tho employers and the timo it has taken
that no working-class organisation with a semblance of backbone, or- the slightest knowledge of their'position, could subscribe to the conference in question. Object B is to promote a good understanding between fiio employers and employees,' which speaka ' for itself.' Other clauses are referred to as 'a declaration against tho.. rights of the democracy.' He describes the resolutionas the 'most reactionary document' ho lms ever seen, and does not wonder at Uie: Dody that made the resolutions refusing to let si 'Red Fed.' speak. ' First Sign of Trouble. "Tho first, indication of intention to limit output by means Of the truckers at Huntly is shown in the union minute book. At a meeting on January 10, as shown by the minute book, it was resolved that no miner,, acting as a trucker, should assist in loading coal . nor do anytliing in the way of handling a truck. A penalty of 12s. 6d. was to bo imposed on any man who offended. A meeting was held at Wellington and an arrangement. was come to there. Among the parties to this conference word Jones, Arbucklb, Roberts, .and Glover, of the waterside workers ■ This arrangomenf was that' the watersiders and coalminers should mutually assist one another in compelling their respective employers to accedo to requests jto.be made, by them at conferences , which tho. coalminers and watorsiders intended-haying with .-their employers. The respective.parties to 'go slew' to effect this object, the 'go slow' to start almost immediately, in anticipation of, tho conferences. That is clear from the correspondence. After Jones's return, to ;Huntly he called a meetiug of the truckers standing at the pit-mouth at tbe end of the day's work. On January 29 he hailed them to an adjacent paddock, without any prelimin-, ary notice,-and there haranguod them/ Briefly his message was this: -He had a message from tho watersido workers that they were 'going slow.' They wanted the assistance of the minors, and thoj were to get it. 'Henceforward you are to go slow, go slow, go slow.' "It is interesting to note hero as everywhere that the men to be affected, the.actual minors, are practically not consulted. Telegrams Between Arbuckle and Jones, "When Jones finds, on l f 6brunry 2, that Arbuckle has not kopt to his arrangement, he.at onco starts sending ■ repeated telegrams, trying to get the • matter put straight. On 8 ho wires to Arbuckle:—'Wire urgent • re the position miners on the Westy Coast, take up ro tho action we decided upon. Members of this district '] have decided unanimously in its favour, • and aro acting. Pukemiro will fall into line, and aro taking another ballot i ro affiliating with federation.' Getting : no reply ho sonds a further iii the ■
bring pressure to bear upon tho ihihebwners ro conference, and I want you to know exact position tho unions take up here. You referred in your wiro ro agreement not dealt with yet. What do you mean? But 1 shall wire you to-morrow for further explanation. I went to Pukemiro; met full executive; had great discussion ro minors' notion and federation constitution. They wero all enthusiastic and unanimous in their decision to fall into lino and act on. tho samo lines at Huntly, Te Akatea, and the other unions ro output, etc' Still More Wires from Jones. ..-. "Not having got; satisfaction from Arbucklo .on February 5, Jones wires: 'Are .the unions you refer to not acting upon what w© agreed before you left Wellington ? All unions this district are acting. If other unions not doing sante, must call it off here. Cannot understand your wires re unions agrooing with us if nothing being done. Reply urgent.' "By this time Denniston lias notified Arbucklo that they are ready to start restricting whenever tho word is given. Further excited wires from Jones to Arbuckle on tho 6th aro \ sent: 'We agreed on Wellington "Wharf to adviso miners to act immediately you wired all. Executive agreed with us. Why has it not been acted upon? Threo unions here acted immediately upon that advice. Am I to call it off hero? Unions should liavo all been acting now. Your previous wiro Buller and State endorse executive action unexplainable in relation to to-day's wire.' "Arbucklo finally wires that none of the southern unions aro acting—that three are in favour and one is against. On the samo day Cumming, secretary of Waipa, notifies Jones that-everything is going on good,' that the new 'conditions aro taking well. Jones Presses Arbucklo, "On tho 7th Jones, as president, sends to-' Arbuckle the following . telegram:—-You should wiro all' unions to act upon our arrangements ■ immediately, bringing pressure to boar upon employers to grant conference. Issuo being delayed by'you not entrusting some or the work to Coppersmith, or exeoutivo members. Write particulars to Kaitangata- district. Forward references to employers immediately. Huntly, To Akatea, Pukemiro, acting effectively. Meeting here to-night. .Wire, urgent what you ■are going to da"' '■ "lii another wire on the same day he sets put tho arrangement arrived at in Wellington, asking how it was he was led to believe all mines wero agreed to act-oh that Wellington , arrangement. Arbuckle replies that all the Coast mines agree, with tho exception of Millerton, and telling Jonos sob to i lift his restriction. Jones, not satisfied, j on tho following day. February 8, noti-1 fies Arbucklo that there is dissatisfac-
samo day; lie. also .notifies Hoborts, i of tho watorsiders, to tbo following effect, that ho is hoping .t'ha ftiitersiders are going to contiiruo tbo how conditions tlmt are being acted on an the Huntly district at 'present.,-'with., the understanding that this'.'id brought about for the solo purposo of bringing pressure to bear or. tho employers. Ho then continues to toll Roberts 'to stand firm, and to hope that Vo will, not waver a jot from tho position that tVaa discussed before in Wellington between Jones and Roberts:"' On February 4 •Jones writes to Arbuckje as imdor:— Comrade" to Another. " 'Dear Comrade,—l can assure you, comrade, that it was worth while having such a mooting as I had hero and at Te Alsatea. Splendid. All were enthusiastic. The largest meeting I have seen yot.iu } ; luntly, and all wore unanimous that we had done the best possible under tb/j circumstances. To Akatca was also unanimous. Both unions aro unauhuous that what we agreed upon on (tho Wellington Wharf was decidedly tho most effective method to adopt, and are acting with precision in tbo matter./ 1 hope that you succeeded in bringing tho unions you have visited into line also, and that they are acting. To be oifective *imity of action' is absolutely necessary. The wire 1 received, from you yesterday is a. very vague one, indeed. Why not say straight out in answer to nw' wire, .because, you inust understand that wo cannot afford to be evasive in this matter. I havs stated it publicly at my meetings thai/ wo. art doujg t.hi 3 16
us to got' a, meeting, we recommended tho miners to go on the 12s. per day until wo met the employers and "ct a satisfactory "agreement. Now I wilTjust toll you.just what I done. When 1 arrived home on Saturday night I saw Coppersmith, and arranged to go with him to Boa on Sunday and see Smith. If they agreed to our proposals then to go on tt> Westport on tho Monday. If Wihnard .agreed, I wire back to Coppersmith, Smith.and yourself, let Winnard go around the Buller, thou return to Grey, Coppersmith to • take the State meeting and mo to go to Blackball and Roa. This was agreed to by tho three of us, Coppersmith stating that I should be at Blackball. You will understand that half tho Blackball men are on each and the only day you can get a meeting is on the. Sunday. Now. when I arrived at Westport, Winnard agreed that it was the only thing that we could do- on the two issues, but, at the same time, no considered that I should go through tho Buller unions now that I was in that district: he thought it would bavo a. bettot- effect on tho men, also that they would he better satisfied getting it first hand, also that thcro was a strong feeling there and' that wo would have a good fight. Now, in tho faco of that, there was nothing left but to go to those unions, and I am going to say that it was a very .wiso movo on Wiunnrd's part, and to lot you see that thcro was no tinlo wasted. Monday 1 arrivo there. Millertoumeeting Tuesday. Agreed on advico no strike. Bo advico, on bringing about agroomont, deckled not to act until we had failed to get agroemont. Ngakawau, Wednesday, agreed to both proposals.. Denuiston agreed to the first, but decided not .1.0 touch tho other until Sunday. 1 arrived .home on tho Friday night so that you' will agrco that 'i went for my life. On tho first Wednesday the State endorsed our action in regard to tho strike, but. did "not touch the other, but arranged to havo a meeting for the following' Wednesday. Now 1 went to. .Blackball on tho Satlurdny night, held meeting thore atid Roa, and got both proposals carried. On the Friday night I returned from Buller. I sat up half the night working. Now the wire I sent to you was Buller and State agree to endorse our action ro agreements not dealt with yet. Meeting Blackball and Roa Sunday. Now that is plain enough that they had endorsed tho executive action on tho strike recommendation, and that tho agreement one was not settled. Now you state that yuur unions acted at once. "Vou didn't wail, to see if tho majority agreed Or not. Now there are 14 unions in tho federation. If three in this or tho Buller has decided that they were against tho proposal and no reply from the south, how was wo going to act? Why, wo would have left ourselvos open to attack, and don't forget it, would ho a fino chance For someone. Now, on your own statement, you got your unions to act at oiieO, so that they, must havo been before there was a chaneo of these unions
doing so. Now, Jack, 1 don't want to bo pulling tho. other end of tho string with you, so tho best thing that you can do is to cut all that sort of stuff out and not wiro it over the wires —all thoso wires on tho samo' lines must have cost us about £3. Ono thing you don't need to put anything,- only Arbuckle, that is all. tho address required fin my wires. 1 also wont to Brunuerton and put tho position to them last Wednesday, and they endorsed our action on tho conscription issuo, and put the other off until Sunday. Iu regard to tho Kaitangata district, I think it was a great mistake not going there, the feeling is, in that distnot, that the federation is no good to them, and that no ono goes there. Be taking the amount out of Huntly contributions, I do not mind. .When I was in tho Buller, Ngakawau, and Denniston, both wanted to know if we were going to appoint anyone in the agent's place. I pointed out that it was decided to lot. it Bland over for a timo on account of us deciding on tho strike. The opinion is that there should bo some ono appointed at once! and in thoso unions the- feeling was that wo should call for nominations and ill tho position. I do not go much on that do .vou.-' Coppersmith and Smith think-it should not bo done that way seeing if, is only a temporary position,, and seeing that it would take six weeks to take a ballot. Then if there wero three nominations, and a second ballot was required, it would'bo very near IT -ji". -°f * ~o, J"e ar - Tho feeling in the district is that someone should be appointed. The only way that I can seo is to let flip unions decide tho question, and.l am asking them to do so.' "
• .Unionism at Huntly. "There was . dissatisfaction amonc some of tho men in tho Huntly mine, ro the position of a man named iMtrrory, who was one of a party of working miners, acting as a trucker. As he was to pool with his mates on their joint earnings, when ho- took trucks down to his -mining mates, he assisted them to fill ,th 9 trucks, a not unnatural-thing to <10, as the moro coal they put out, the more wages thov would divide This, however, was prejudicial, to the .'go slow,' and it was reported.to the union, and the entry in tho minute-books, discloses thai at a mcetmg of the executive, at which irere Jonesj Jordnn, Malofley, and OBrien, a deputation consisting of Jordan and Malohey was sot up to deal with this man.. They did so • interviewing M'Grory, and he was toldthat he must not repeat this offence, and threatened that if he did so ho would bo fined) 12s. 6d. Ho replied by asking to bo brought before the executive. Ho did come before the executive of the union, where he was again threatened, and ho said he did not oarc, ho was going to help his mates. Jones then told him that ho did not want to have any trouble, and if he did not stop it' he would be fined 12-s. 6d., and also said he would go and seo his mates in the morning. Jones did see tho men in the morning, and said to Alder, one of,them, that ■M'Grory had been brought before tho executive, that ho Was. helping the miners'to fill, and .that tho executive would not have it. On February 21 these men came before the union, Jordan, the vice-president of the union, being in tho chair, Jones boing absent in -Wellington. The men wero roundly abused by the meeting, told that thoy were only fit to bo used as a doormat for the other men, and threatened by O'Brien, the secretary of the union, that as long as he was in tho union, he would see tho la.w carried out (referring to the motion carried by the union), audi that any man who helped his mates \vould he- fined.' Millerton Refuses to Como to Heel. . "By February 9 Arbucklo had succeeded in getting the Coast mines into line as far as he could. The Millerton mine would riot como in—the Men were given a secret ballot, and turned tho proposition down' by two- to one. Millerton, of which John Dowgray is. president, refused to como to heel, for which Dybwgray is referred! to in uncomplimentary terms by.the members of tho executive, Jones describing him as a man who 'has been weighed in tho balance . and found .wanting.' Tho Kaitangata mirto (of "which Braidwood, a member of tho «xccutive, is secretary), in spit oof Braidwood's efforts, would not agreo to cime in, atid Braidwood tells Arbucklo pitifully that the union there is composed! of '» lot of wowsers,' who have aniongst them members who eaid that they did not see why they should pay further levy on behalf of Sample, on the. grounds that if Seinple had attended to his business asmiiiers' agent ho.would not have got into trouble. Kaitangata also, to Braidwood's sorrow, rosoived that, at a time like this, it was improper to take any action to embarrass the Government, and! that the conference is uncalled for. His letter reads as follows:—'I went to Green Island on January 18, and met the executive there. Tilings are pretty tame as far as the general body of men aro concerted. The exeoutivo Was going to arrange for a general meeting, and try and get the same resolution passed as was passed at Nightcaps. Exeoutivo. feel pretty strong en'the subject, but fear the men won't take drastic action.- Segarding Kaitangata, tho same feeling prevails new as was before the ccnfereilco on the 20th. That is, they won't tako action against conscription. Tile wowser element predominates. When I l'cad your lotter, saying tho levy of sixpence per member for two months was one for expenses Of conscription and other causes, thoy wanted to withdraw from federation. But I pointed but that suppose they were withdrawing now, thoy Would still bo liable for levy. W. Cairns is the leader of the movement against it. I think I have given
you a fair report of work clone. Kindly let mo know if you rcceivo this all right, and how tilings are going on tlio Coast. I liavo sent on my account Ho .you direct, as I thought that regular Business Would 1)6 better done thlt way,". Cuarantoed Mrs. Semple £4 Week. Braidwood's lettor concludes: ."To show tllo spirit of tho men hero, we had the circular from .N.Z. Labour Party (resolutions passed at. conference) at last general meeting, and tlio motion that they lio on the .table and that wo take no action to hinder tlio Government in enforcing conscription was carried by a largo majority. Also tho appeal from Ted Howard for, tho dependants of those gaoled was turned down, Cairns moving that in our opinion miners wcro doing enough when they guaranteed Mrs. Scmplo £i a week. As ill his opinion Seinplo had no right to bo there. Ho should, have boon.attending to his agent's.duties. Tho now executive herd is built on tho lines of Cairns. So don't look lor much." . . . Pupoiiga. was another mine, which, in spite of tho energies of their secretary, Carr, did not come, into lino. Carr himself wrdto on more than one occasion, endorsing tlio executive's action, and saying, that, 12s. a. day was not a sufficient reduction,- but should be reduced to Bs., butat this time Hfl■parently Carr, extremist though he himself was, coidd not get tho members of his union to seo oyo to'oyo ■ with him. However, he subsequently succeeded, and. when ho did, ho wrote a letter of aOology to Arbuckle ox- : plaining why it was his union had not . acted before. : How ArbuoUle Kopt Faith. j Arbuekle's reply to this letter of | Carr's is indicative of what Arbuekle . considers to no good faith as between ] himself and other members of the \ executive. lie teljs Carr not to put , this position of Pupouga. before the I,
other unions at present, because tho others did not know that Pupongawas not acting. "1 think it would have a bad effect to toll them that you ard not noting after me telling tbem that you was." So, apparently, Arbuckle, to induce tho other unions to como into lino was misleading them by guaranteeing concerted action on behalf of other unions who were not acting.
"Jones is still dissatisfied with Arbuckle, jind on the 11th .February ho wires that ho is afraid of his own position. Ho explains his own action, says that things are no good, and that O'Brien is kicking over the traces. Arbucklo writes to Jones in defence on the 11th February, and sots out what ho understands to bo tho arrangement which latter I liavo already read. He then points out that Semple's position is not yet filled, and the difficulty there would-be in baring a. proper election, and suggests that tho appointment should bo made by tho executive,.which is tantamount to saying that ho should got tho job, which result ho subsequently worked. Object of All tho Moves. "It vtovrj transpires that tho object of all theso moves is to force tho owners to grant a'l7J per.cent, iucreaso on the present, rates. On those rates they aro already receiving a 10 per cdnt. war bonus. Thoy further ask. that they should get i'reo coal, that is, Unit tho amount paid to them, to extend all oyej New Zealand and continue after tho war had terminated, would bo a 27} per cent, increase on the current rates, existent under
■ normal To this was to bo added free coal, and somo other mofo fayourablo conditions, which ovidence will ho.given, moans an increase on the cost of winning coal equal to 48 per cent, ort existing terms. It must be noted that no such intimation of such claims had up to tho time of institution of going slow been made to the owners, no opportunity given them to consider the question of increase. No complaints had been mado by the miners to tho owners. The 'go-slow' Was started and in operation some tinie before their terms were ascertained. Tho object of this reticence, on the part of the miners was plainly to Cause the mines to ho run for a certain period at a. loss, and that this loss should "be continued to such an oxtenfc that the owners would bo forced into the position of not being ablo to resist, any claim that might be made. The averago pay had been 225. 2d. per day at PaparOa, 18s. 2d. at Denniston, :21s. at Pukemiro,- 15s. 6d; at Himtly, 21s. at Waipa. 20s; at Point Elizabeth State, 17s. lOa.'at Liverpool State, 18s. f)d. at Blackball, and 18s. 6d. at Stockton.
Reckless of Consequence j, ""To this object these men were willing to absolutely tio-the hands 6f the New Zealand Government iji respect to the war. They were reckless whether jneat and other food products bought by the Imperial Government in this country ever reached England. Thoy were regardless whether any further troops left this country. They were Willing to jeopardise the national safety, to imperil'the flag (tho protection of Which they aro willing to live' under), ready to betray the men who have'left this country, to offer up, if need be, tho last great sacrifice on\ the battlefields of Europe and Asia, in defenco Of that liberty and freedom which these prepared to enjoy and abuse. Surely thoso soldiers who havo geno from New Zealand have the right to expect that those, who are left, and for whom, thfey are fighting, shall not play the Germans' game for them, but apparently- they do not know Arbuckle, Jones, and their friends. Engineering a Message from Jones.
... Prior to a conference being held in Wellington, Jones, president of tlie federation, was' in that city. ' While there, .Jordan, the president of ttia Huntly IJnion, on February 16, reports to Mm the position in Huntly; and asks Jones to send a message to the men. Jordan writes as follows:—in this conference with the employers T would admit nothing. If the agreement is entered intu clauso by clause, find out-their objection to cOrtain things, and if it can't bo settled there and then pass on to the next clause, and so on to seo how much they do agree to. Tho "Herald" is full of the coal owners' views arid tho ' go slow" business, trying to gain public sympathy. This stuff ought to bo answered. I would like you to do so. Wo have had a lot of trouble siuco the truckers have gono on day wages. They are not given the men even'turn in some cases. _ Tho turn in some parts of the mine is down to ten. and eleven skipsj north side only nine to-day 1 told the truckers if the'"go slow',' system was not in voguo when they went on day wages they could not liavo conio down from 20 to 22 to ovon 13. They would have had. to truck 16 or 17 - at least. It was a good thing for them it was on.. Wp have-to admit that the truckers hold tho situation in their own. hands. I have told them as far as .1 am concerned this "go'slow" idea will bo kept oh till they got satisfaction. One good turn deserves an6 a- • _ « e you a message for them? A word of advice, from you. may go a long way. In r€gard ; to Carlyne place I declared it deficient in regard to back pay. I could! seo that they had gone -through stone; but Woods wanted to know where it was. There wasn't a piece as big as your hand tobe seen lying around. Dick told Woods it all broke into little hits, and they could not pick it out. ' Woods would not listen to that tale. Well, So long, Old pal. Good luck and good health to you to meet the situation nest week.' Tho Message Arrives. "Jordan receives tho message from Jones as requested, and With a view to keep tho men under control copies and posts Jones's messages ,np at the pit-head of the mine. The notice is as' follows: —'.Notice!—Mr. J. Jones, president, Miners' Federation, says:— ■Conference -will most likely last all this week. Tho Press is not admitted 'by--either side. Delegates putting up a hardi fight on j:our behalf. It is your duty to play your part like men. You aro being weighed in the balance. Tho success of this conferolico depends on tho solidarity of the I coal-mine workers of Noiv Zealand. It is as true to-day a-s over that in unity is strength.' "Tho sentiments expressed in that I notice, if applied to the 'war, aro admirable—applied to this conspiracy, despicable. "Jones white in Wellington receives from a firebrand named Wesley a letter of encouragement, in which Wesley damns the Government, damns tho gaols) exhorts Jones to fill tho gaols of tho country rather than yiold, exhorts him to get into Alison arid Ralph and down them, and having sent lovq from himself and Mrs.-, Wesley winds lip With 'Fight,.fight, you— —, light! 1 • Loiter From Australia. •''Jordan, oil arrest, had the following letter on him, which illustrates clearly the class of. man'ho is and tho class of men who art allowed to CODio fvoely' into this country :— Whitbury Estate, Grota, - N.S.W., 21/l/'l7. - Dear Arthur,—l haven't received any letter front you since I last wrote, but W6. aro- beginning to worry about jou-»wauderihg whether you arc. a guest.of tho Government or only just mixed np in some agitation. According to tho news, that is coming over from Now Zealand things cannot bo very comfortable for a freedom-loving man. .Knowing vour temperament'wc Wefe Wondering jfyou'wci'6 mixed Up, directly Or indirectly, with the trouble ' over conscription. . We see that- it has '
been.put into operation, aiid that several arrests have,been madbj including Somplc. Wo Bee ho hasjjecu sentenced to ono year's imprisonment. According to what wo can.gather it scorns to bo easy to get arrested and put into prison, so you must excuso our anxiety about yoii, and favour us by writing at your earliest convenience. You will seo by the chango of address that wo have moved. That was my reward for advocating no conscription. I could not got work in tho Newcastlo or Maitland districts. I was looking for work just after the strike, and things woro very dull. It is real good work here, and I would have liked it well had' it been nearer Newcastle or some other centre of activity. I am lost for tho time boing. Everything is quiet, and it does not" suit my makoup. Howover, .1 suppose L have timo to reflect and think. It is tho easiest work I have ever seen. "We are lying about tho pit for £1 a d'av. We Could nicely make £2 ;i day. Wish I could get it for a while. lam getting quitefat here. 'Canny'.work,'you know, Arthur. I supposo you havo heard about our win, apart from tho eight hours. Well, we havo got a 15 per cent, and 20 per cent, advance, 15 per cent, for contract work and 20 per cent, for shiftmen, also 7} per cent, extra for those working ' afternoon shift. In a few wooks tiiero will ho moro afternoon work, except in essential places. The elections will be com-
ing off hero soon. I am not running, but hope to lie in tho fight. It will bo hotly contested, conscription or no. • Con. in anothor form. Will write fuller next time. Hope to hear from you soon. Best wishes .to the boys. Hopo you arc woll.—-Your chum, (Sgd.) Chris. 1 . " Tho Restriction Policy. "Ono of the minute hooks states: — 'The next question was the operation of the restriction policy. Mr. Hynes suggested that the policy should bo tightened in order to bring about an early settlement to" bitr grievance. Tho chairman, said that he did not think that any' alteration to tho present method Was necessary. Tho present restriction was doing good work, and was being keenly, felt by the ooalowners. He complimented tho miners of Donnistou on tho magnificent manner that they had stood the test sinco tho policy wa3 adopted, and said their loyalty would be further tested before this question was settled.' I do not know what Wiimard conceives to bo loyalty. Ho had every confidence that they would not bo found .wanting. Howover, tho leaders are not having .things exactly as they would like ttiem. Winnard reports to'flog some of tho men who did not pay their .levies, and the Denniston officials are mildi exercised that out of a fortnight's pay, in. which tho miners received something. over £2000 in Wages, their contributions to the fund for the support of their gaoled comrades was -tno munificent sum of 6s. 9d. Winnard further reports that this mine was 2000 tons short last month, which bo considers, shows great spirit on the part of tho men; further, that he has eneniios in Denniston who are doing their hisb to shift him from tho union j that the 'executive is fighting for its existence and advising that if any sign of weakness is v shown anywhere a representative should bo sorit there to deal with it. Dealings with the Watersiders. "On January 26 Glover, president, and Roberts, .secretary of tho WaterBiders' Federation,, write to Jones as president of the Coalminers' Fedora* lion: 'The executive, of tho Watersiders' Federation does not think it advisable miners to act, relying on our support until you receive the decision from tho Waterside Workers' Federation.' On January .31 a further communication states: 'We are withholding further action until wo hear from your organisation.' On February 1, Roberta wires Jones: 'Position, in Wellington good re now conditions, 1 and in confirming this by letter adds that his executive has agreed to Jones's propo-. •sals, but advises that no action- be taken as far as water-workers are concerned. On February 3 Jones wrote to Roberts as under:—l hope you intend to continue putting into effect What is understood as being tho new , cbiiditions. ln»reference to the miners taking any action relative to the watersiders, I agreo with you that it would not bo wise, but they have unanimously agreed, to act upon the now conditions proposed and understood ' between us (i.e., as far as all miiners in the North Island and some of the South Island as well. I have not received information from Arbuckle re tho latest unions he has visited). It is being acted upon in this district at present, with tho understanding that this is brought about with tho sole purpose of bringing: pressure to bear upon our employers to meet us in conference. 1 have made no secret of this. I shall bo pleased to receive word froin you 6f the position from timo to tirao.Stahd firm on the now conditions, and personally I think that success awaits us in, tho near future. If you think
it necessary to confer on any matter, just drop me a wire, and if any way possible I. shall be there immediately. But whatever will.bo done, I hope you will not waver a jot from the.position w6' discussed before I left. Wellington. I am of the same opinion • still, and believe my organisation will stand firm to the last. Keep the red flag tying.— Yours in tho fight, John JoncsV Relieved From Fighting—and "Co Slow!", "Many of the miners engaged in this 'go slow' operation in the various mines were men who had been relieved from compulsory service on the understand' iiig that they were to return to tho mines to win ooal, The majority of these men showed how litfclo regard they had for their own manhood by escaping service to assist in this iniquitous polioy instituted by the federation, fo the evorfasting credit of four miners at Blackball, whose names I will not mention, for fear that thoy will suffer for their attitudo, replied, when ordered to 'go slow' by the union secretary, that thoy had been released from active service to get coal, and tnat.they were going to got as much coal as they could, and bo damned to the union, aud thoy have been as good as their word. One of these men was a member of the local executive, and was promptly expelled from office. Tho , views of the unions' secretaries as to ■; tho Military Appeal Board is exempli- ' fied by a loiter from tho patriotio Mr. Gumming to Arbuckle, in which ho i writes as follows:—'Sonic of our chaps . was up before tho Appeal Board m Hamilton the other day, and.got a pretty rough time re tho "go slow," the chairman remarking that if things did nob change thoy would ho liable to ( bo called up at any time (just so). 1 , forgot to mention : in last letter that • wo had tho sub-inspector of polico and some other members of the forces out | hero looking for information re the "go slow." T hear they had all the doputics makiug statements. I don't know what is on tho move, but I hear they' aro trying to make a case. Has
I the Bitmo thing gouo on clown the Coßßt.P' • ' "Arbuclclo replies'.that-the polieo aro doing bo, and reckon they are going to play hell, but they will find they havo got everything-in front of them. It was noticeable, eta-led counsel, ITiat in this as' in all other strikes, tho rank and filo were not ebmnllted. A small coterio of loaders decided on tli6 scheme, and tho inen were forced, by "packed" union meetings to fall into line. After referring to relations be- , twoen the waterside workers and tho minors' officials, counsel said defendants were obviously not wanting in intelligence. Thoy recognised "tho • cons&tjuencos of thoir aotions, and felt : certain that if they., carried their plans ■
into effect they could wring anytennff they named. .The double advantage of the schomo from their pont of view was that while virtually on strike they, were taking from tho employers sufficient money to : enable them to live until tho owners camo to their terms' or tho Government was. forced 1 to step in to protect itself. Government interference was their second 6tring. Tha idea was to get the Government to take action to save the- i ace of the oxecutive in case'of the miners eventually getting out of hand with the continued) refnsal of mine-owners to submit to their demands.
The case was still proceeding when the Coo-rfc rose for tho day.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3061, 24 April 1917, Page 4
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8,788"GO SLOW" MINERS IN COURT Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3061, 24 April 1917, Page 4
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