BENDIGO.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1013, 16 September 1881, Page 2

BENDIGO.

(Communicated.) A meeting was held here on September 10 to wind up the affairs of the Strike Committee, and to divide the funds that had been collected throughout the district on behalf of the families that had been so ruthlessly treated by the Cromwell Mine Company. lam now well stricken in years, but I have never witnessed such cruelty and oppression as the late strike revealed. The

most wanton acts of cruelty were resorted to by the Company’s representatives hero to make the miners succumb. The demolition of their houses, because they stood on the Company’s leases, was an act which, for the sake of common humanity, I hope may stand alone for ever. But after the poor men had built themselves other tenements, in hope that they might got employment after the strike terminated, most of them have been doomed to disappointment, for they have been refused work, while men of non-mining experience—alias turf-miners—-have taken their places. One instance will suffice to show the state of affairs existing here at present. Two new hands had been put to work iu the face at 10s per day. Several hours afterwards the uudor-ground manager came around, and found that they had only bored one inch of a hole. He remonstrated with them, but to no purpose, as one of them could not turn the drill, and the other could not strike it. The boss then called an old hand (a practical miner) who was trucking, and puc him to work in the face with one of the turf-miners, and sent the other to truck ; but upon tho news reaching tho general manager a scene ensued, and the under-ground boss got a reprimanding for his so-called interference, and the practical miner was turned adrift, while the turf-miners were retained-

By-the-bye, this was the same man who, with his sick wife and infant, had their house pulled down during the strike, in compliance with the eviction notices served by the manager. Now, if there is one place in New Zealand where kindly feeling should exist between employer and employed, that place is Bendigo. This has always been the ease heretofore, and the Company has reaped the benefit thereof. But where—ah ! whore?—are the principles and consciences of the men who could act so unfeelingly towards their fellow men ? Till lately, moat of the men blamed the manager for treating them so harshly, and thought that the Company was not cognisant of his actions. Now, however, things appear in their true light, for the manager boasts that his wages have been increased IDs per week since the strike sot in ; but is not this .“ the wages of unrighteousness ’ while it has deprived men] with large families of the moans of earning a crust for their offspring? lam neither a witch nor a neciomaucor, and 1 have no fear of being called a false prophet when I assert that the Cromwell Company will never recover the loss sustained in the removal of men from their employ whose equals cannot be got in New Zealand. They thought to bo revenged on the men for preferring what they deemed a reasonable re-quest-revenge is sweet only in the mouths of fools—but they will find that the rod they made for the men will yet bo their own punisher-

How, Mr Editor, I fear 1 have already exceeded the bounds of a letter, and in conclusion bog to tender you the thanks of the men in meeting assembled for your advocacy of their just cause, without even being patronised by their advertisements. Tho men also tender their best thanks to those of their friends who subscribed to assist them in tho time of need. The sum subscribed was LIU, which was divided by tho committee appointed for that purpose, and thus ended tho business of the strike a l ' Bendigo.