Watch Waihi!

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 15, 16 June 1911, Page 8

Watch Waihi!

At date of writing (Monday) it looks like a "downing or tools" at Waihi.

Contrary to wnat is said by the daily papers, a strike is not desired by tho .federation, of JLabor, nor is the federation's attitude ono of "stand and deliver."

Strikes are never picnics, and—again contrary to popular notions—never aro they undertaken for the fun of them.

Tnere is no tun in a strike. A striko is a hard and bitter experience. A strike is struggle and strife and sufiermg. A striKo is sometimes hell let loose. arc resorted to when submission is past- enduring. All strikes are justified If the pious folk who cant about "those awful strikers' would only do their obvious duty and do away with the causes of striiios; or if they would sco tlie aw fulness of the recKlessness exhibited by the callous dividend-hunt-ers and ivtammon-worshippers whoso disdain and contempt make strikes necessary, they would bo usefullcr and better people. If there is a strike at "Waihi it will be the fault of Director Hhodes and his colleagues. lihodes says the men's demands are unnecessary and unreasonable! Dxpioiters always say this of demands which touch their pockets. The demands of the Waihi men are modest enough in all conscience. The chief demands are for better, wages, preference to unionists, and reduced fatalities. More men are damaged and slaughtered per year at Waihi than upon any other mining field in Australasia. Smaller Avages are paid at Waihi than upon any other mining field in New Zealand. Wo ask straight if there is man or woman not a slavedriver in the Dominion who considers the wages demanded (and printed hereinunder) more than fair pay ? Since the arbitration award (1907), which fixed the ruling rates, the cost of living has increased more than the

difference between the ruling rates and the proposed rates. Notoriously, living is dearer in N.Z. than in any part of Australasia.

Then, in Waihi, the mines keep always in hand nine days' pay from every worker. This means nine days withheld pay, practically permanently, and upon it the companies draw interest year in and year out. Let it be grasped that the mines have refused the men's demands and are understood to have spoken tho last word. They, glorifying arbitration, will not arbitrate. They slammed the door in Organiser Semplo's faco and refused to meet the Union with Semplo as a representative. In the wish to effect a settlement tho Union passed over this insult. What if tho Union had declined to meet Barry, or Grace, or Stewart, or Morrison? What a howl there would have been about a "stand and deliver" attitude!

If there is a strike tho men of Wai hi will fight to the bitter end and not one will .bo a. damned scab.

The blacklegs' union (boosted by the prsjips and spies and bosses' tools) has its quietus, because no solid unionist could be cajoled into it.

xiail to the spiendid solidarity of the Waihi men I Tiieir meetings have been magnificent. They will stand together for manhood and a bit more iijt the homes tor wives and children.

If there is to bo a strike let it be a etrike to win.

Ho either fears his fate too much, or his

■deserts are small, Who dares not put it to the toucli to -win

or lose it all.

Should there be a strike, our next issue will contain some startling revelations about Waihi mines' finance arid conditions.

Meanwhile let every unionist in New Zealand make ready to help Waihi. For the common safety and cause. For tho common unionism. Unionism is one.

Follows the scale of wages submitted to the mining companies tor consideration :— WAGES. 1. Tho following shall be the minimiirn rates of wages which shall be paid by the employers respectively to tJie persons employed by such employers in the capacities undermentioned, that is to say :— In or about a mine. Rates Award Demanded itato. s. d. s. d. Miners working in drives and stopes 10 0 8 6 Miners in winzes or rises hand steel 10 6 8 10 Timbormen 10 0 9 0 Bracomen and oilers ... 9 6 8 6 Ohambermen, skip-fillers, and oilers underground 10 0 8 6 Mullockers and truckers 10 0 8 0 Shaft work 11 0 9 0 All men required to work on machines shall be paid one shilling per shift in addition to the above rates. Pumpmen and pitmen ... 11 0 9 6 Surface laborers 9 0 7 6 iJiacKsmitlis 11 6 9 6 Strikers, over 19 years of age 9 0 7 6 Tool snarpeners 10 4 9 0 Pipemen 10 0 — Carpenters 11 6 9 6 Firemen 10 0 8s &9s Engincdrivers requiring first-class cerVilicates and in charge of pumping and hoisting machinery. Winders 12 0 10 0 Winchmen 12 0 9 6 Says tho Waihi "Daily Telegraph": In considering tho two different tables of rates of pay, it must be remembered tiiat the bulk of the mining work in tiie Waihi Company's mine is done by contract, and that coma-actors pay tneir wages men lls per shift underground and 10s per shift for surface laoour. Tho Waihi Compare, has been paying tho minimum rate for casual "surface laborers 7s 6d, but in many cases 8s has been paid.