STIKE AT WAIHI.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 May 1912, Page 3

STIKE AT WAIHI.

Instructed by the members of the

exectutive committee of the Wai hi - Miners and Workers' Union the workeis employed by the Waihi and the "Waihi Grand Junction mines " downed tools " on Monday, and the nrines are idle. A mass meeting of the miners traa held in the evening, and after a long discussion it was decided to strike immediately.

In the absence of any official information (the executive officers declining: to discusß the matter) it is impossible to arrive at any definite conclusion as to what actually led to the strike, but it may be aaid without much fear of contradiction that the attitude ad« opted by the executive is the outcome of a difference with the recently-for m^ ed Waihi Enginedrive/s' and Winders' Union, which is to be registered under the.Concilation and Arbitration Act. From the outset the formation of this union has been strongly oppos'ed by the executive, of the Waihi Miners and Workers' Union, and a "V section of the union which holds that *-§& it is in the best interests of the workers s^s£ #8 a whole to stand to the New Zqsl--1 land Federation of Labour. .Representations were made to the drivers and winders to this end. The Jatter. howeverj declined to be dictated to. and tbier refusal on Saturday night to receive a deputation from the Workers Union executive has evidently led up to the present crisis. On the strike being mentioned by a Herald representative on Monday ev ening to Mr Ohas, Rhodes, local director of the Waihi Company, he stated that no option had been given to the company in the matter. No reference had*been made by the men in any shape or form. The Miner's Union were now under no argreement with the company. The quarrel was not with tho company, but with the Engineers and Winders' Union, Asked if he was prepared to make any statement as to the action the company would take should the strike continue, Mr Rhodes preferred not to make any statement at this juncture.