THE WAIHI STRIKE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1066, 6 July 1912, Page 3

THE WAIHI STRIKE

Mr H. Holland, syndicalist, predicts that the water will soon reach No. 10 level in the Waihi mine, and the owners will then either have to concede the men’s demands and “ abandon the attempt to wreck the federation ” or else have to start pumping on the mine. He thinks that in this case there will be a general strike. This is how he sees the situation: —“No unionist should perform any service whatever for any mine-owner, or owners’ official, or engine-driver. No shop assistant should serve, no barber should shave, no railway man or cab driver carry any of these who are fighting against the working class. The lesson taught the picture show proprietor should be taught every other business house similarly playing the masters’ gajne and could be taught them, given sufficient working-class knowledge and solidarity.’’ Mr Holland conveniently overlooks the fact that the federation has been weighed and found wanting, and that the barber, the engine-driver and the cabman will not take instructions from the gentleman with the red flag.

The “Red Fed’s” organ the Maoriland Worker, continues to confuse the Waihi and Reefton issues to save Hi: face of the federation bosses. This is its latest outbreak :—“Verily it would be a miracle if the men of Waihi and Reefton proved victors. Yet that miracle shall be seen if we never give in. Rather than return to work beaten, the mining fields of Waihi and Reefton ought to be deserted, recorded as scabs spots, and guerilla war rage until ‘white’ unionism be vindicated. It is the Federation of Labour versus Capitalism and Treachery, A Federation ot Labour honoured with the combined and relentless attack of allied employers, capitalist press and renegade Labour party has at least demonstrated the irrepressible presence of the Class Struggle its rose-water exploiters would and would,not use and abuse.”