Notes from the North

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 6, 20 February 1911, Page 10

Notes from the North

(By BILLY BANJO.)

The Waikato Miners' Union have decided by a substantial majority to cancel their registration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The financial members number 471, and the voting at the ballot was as follows : — For cancellation, 318; against, 85; informal, 11. The miners, like other labourers, are long-suffering. At last comes the welcome cry : "We shall have no more of this brow-beating." The Arbitration Court as it exists, is a fraud. The fallacy of administering justice by such an order has been proved to the hilt. The Waikato miners received a three years' sentence at the last sitting, which has had one redeeming feature—its outcome was the cancellation of registration . "The Maoriland Worker" is widely read up here. The bread-winners are slowly but surely progressing, and soon the funeral service will be read over the grave of the Capitalistic Press. I cannot tolerate the writing of "Labour Notes" in the "New Zealand Herald." It is a good column for tact purposes, and has served its turn as a gull. Many miners have been surprised to read in the "Worker" that the shearers outnumber the picksmen. Surely a well-built bridge will be "The Maoriland Worker." Peter Bowling was here. Whatever the Southern men may think, the men of the North have come to some decided opinions upon Peter's opinions. Now that a fortnight has elapsed since he spoke in the Waikato, it will, no doubt, be interesting to have a few reflections. By the way, the bosses favoured Peter with a hearing I As Peter Bowling addressed the Huntly men, he found himself before men who could understand him, being fellow-coalminers. Criticism might be expected to follow. It was inspiring to see how these slow, toil-oppress-ed miners were roused to enthusiasm— through what? Only simple words, but full of meaning to them. Peter had something definite—no wandering from point to nowhere. He touched Life—read the workers' history book. From opinions expressed to mc since, I can truly record that many are clearer upon the fallacy of arbitration, as it exists to-day. A deeper sense of appreciation for the federation of Labour is prevalent, and no doubt the workers' latent strength has been set in motion. This will contribute immeasurably towards the winning of the fight that is going on so subtly around our very homes. Criticism 1 Just a word ! Many think that Peter spoke overmuch about himself—had got a bit of swelled head. Perhaps they have been reading, with unwarrantable faith, the "Sydney Bulletin." Peter, no doubt, possesses a head a wee bit removed from the ordinary type, but is nevertheless quite an ordinary man. He could not very well escape from speaking about himself, since the strike was practically centred around him. Then, again, he was fulfilling a personal invitation from the Federation of Labour. Peter had to say a lot about himself, in order to explain the milk in the Newcastle cocoanut. He was earnest, and, I thought, above all else, he was REASONABLE—a quality so very often " found missing " amongst men who pose as reformers amongst the workers to-day. Reformers ! Heroes ! How sad to see around us men who possess the ability to lead their fellow-men to higher ideals being broken at the hotel bar. On January 25th my thoughts turn instinctively to Burns of Scotia. Men the wide world over stand at the bar and degrade the name they mean to honour ! There is a certain Union up North here which can manage to struggle through its business, affecting the best interests of the daily lives of its members. But the hotel has a nurse's call for many. Fellowworkers, we never will be able to ad-' ranee far unless we cease spending so much time and earnings at the bar. The employers can thus get every word of Union matters, and when the time comes for the fight the men lose because the company has been forearmed and forewarned, and has the advantage of position. Fellow-workers, do not sell your manhood and the sacred rights of your homes for a glase of beer 1

"The Pukemiro Colieries, Ltd./' has issued its prospectus. In the "New Zealand BLerald" of January 14th appeared its public notice. It read : " No need for State mine. The people have it in their own hands to get cheap coal." It reads well ! But the Northern people want a State mine, and want it badly. A further part of this " public notice" tells the people how it will be possible to realise cheaper coal and higher dividends. The company can work the coal to the outcrop, and by doing so the time

which would otherwise be spent by the miner in travelling will be saved. But, of course, the miners are not included in the appeal bo the people ! The Government has taken decided steps towards the erection of the Huntly bridge, and many believe that a State mine will naturally follow, as the Crown lands in the vicinity are coalhearing.