Union Notes.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 1, Issue 5, 20 January 1911, Page 4

Union Notes.

THE INANGAHUA MINERS. In response to the invitation extended to Unionists in the first page of the " Maoriland Worker " to send along news concerning the movement in their respective districts, and believing that if the invitation is accepted, especially by Union secretaries, the news of the progress of the various Unions in the dominion Avill give an added interest not only to our paper but to the Labour movement generally, I take this opportunity of. forwarding a few notes concerning what is numerically the second largest Union in the New Zealand Federation of Labour, the Inangahua Miners' Union. The membership of our Union is betAveen eight and nine hundred; the headquarters are at Reefton, AA r ith branches at Waiuta and Big River. Contributions are sixpence per Aveek, and out of this amount one penny per week per member goes to the Federation, thus leaving us fivepence per week to Avork upon; on this fivepence per week our Union has up to date accomplished a feat in finance that no insurance company in the land dare attempt, as it has for a number of years paid its members one pound per week accident allowance, and the accident pay actually paid to members for the year just closing (1910) totalled just on £700. Daring the year the Union Avas enabled, notwithstanding the heavy drain for accidents, to place £236 of ordinary revenue into the erection of a miners' hall at Waiuta branch. But members are Avaking up to the fact that mixing the accident fund Avith the Union fund is sloAvly but surely sapping the spirit of our Union. They are beginning to realise that if they Avish to make the progress a large body of intelligent miners should make, if they are going to assist in the educative work that is so essential to ensure the future success of this working class movement of ours, or if they wish to build a defence fund for themeA 7 itable day Avhen a very vital principle may be at stake, if they AA'ish to do any of things they knoAA* they must split their funds. A general meeting has been held and a strong committee appointed to go right to the heart of the matter, and he probable result of their labour Avill be that early in 1911 AA T e shall our trade section and benefit section ; trade section to be compulsory, benefit section optional. Within the past six Aveeks (although the facts did not reach print) the Union has prevented the establishment of the obnoxious contract system in the largest mine on the field ; there was a total absence of noise or demonstration in righting the dispute. The Union quietly but firmly refused to alloAv its members to stop on the contract system. The employer finding himself up against a solid substance, tried to obtain a surplus supply of labour from Australia, knowing full well that if sufficient idle men AA 7 ere in the district, he could trust good old economic pressure to do the rest. The Union, however, got the hang of the situation, and at once cabled to the principal mining centres in the ComrinonAA-ealth, Avith the result that the much desired surplus labour has not arrived. The " Maoriland Worker " has been exceptionally well received by members, who are unanimous in declaring it to be easily the best and most promising Labour paper that has been nublished in the dominion. Hopes are expressed on all sides that the shearers Avill declare for affiliation through the ballot-box in February, and that as a result of the ballot the little yelloAVcovered schoolmaster Avill be issued Aveekiv instead of monthly, early in 1911. * M. A. FAG AN, Secretary Inangahua Miners' Union. Reefton, December, 1910.