REEFTON REFERENCES.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 23, 11 August 1911, Page 14

REEFTON REFERENCES.

SEMPLE ,ON POLITICS. The annual meeting of Inangahua Miners' Union AvaS held on July 22. The' half-yearly' report and balancesheet showed the Union to be in a healthy position/ both financially and numerically.' The membership had increased 400 in tAvo years and iioav stood at 1016: The folioAving resolution Avas unanimously carried: "That in the opinion of this' meeting, the Prime Minister's action in accepting a hereditary title is against the best interests of a democratic community, and that this Union calls upon all Labor organisations throughout the Dominion to register a protest." *H- Gillen Avas re-elected unopposed! for- the position of President, and "M. Fag an -was'- re-elected ■■ unopposed as secretary and AA-orkrnen's inspector, wltilst-' the positions of Vice-presi-dent and Committee of Management; AA'ere to be ballot-ted for on August "stbi •The rules of this Union have been completely amended and Aye ceased to j>ay accident pay out of our general fund as from the Ist of July. A benefit section has been started and OA'er 750 members have enrolled. .. The organising secretary of our Federation paid ns a visit on July 22 and addressed a meeting of / members in Princess Theatre, Reef ton. On day, 23rd inst., he visited Waiuta (•Avhich is in Sir Arthur's electorate), end found the Miners' Hall packed to the doors to greet him. Semple Avas at his best, and--received.- a splendid reception. He dealt exhaustively Avith the proposal that the Federation should take .political action in the Grey electorate at the- forthcoming election. He explained the danger of rushing into the political field in -at* unprepared state; shoAving conclusively that if sectional action Avere taken-that defeat must •■ follow; and pointed out that ill-advised action at this stage ' must reflect back on the industrial arena; But several unions in this ■constituency had' notified his executive that they desired political action, and it was this that had brought him tr* Waiuta. Majority must rule, and he had come 'lo ask members of the N.Z.F. of Labor

residing at Waiuta: ■■whether they desired political' action 'in "November. Each union in the Grey electorate would be consultedin turn, and if the majority was in-favour of running a candidate, then nominations would be called and a plebescite-taken. That done, defeated candidates and rank and file' alike would be expected to fight tooth - and nail- for the return of the selected candidate. He denied the rumour that he aspired to a seat in Parliament; He felt that his place Avas in the industrial field; and a dray load of petitions asking him.: to stand for Parliament Avould not shake his resoh-e to remain at his present Avork. A ballot Avas taken in the hall., whenit Avas decided, Avith but tAA'o dissentients; that Waiuta Branch favoured political action at the forthcoming general election/;•candidates to be pledged to the-objective of the N.Z.F-.L. . The meeting was easily the most enthusiastic ever • held at Waiuta, and concluded Avith three ringing cheers for the N.Z. Federation of Labor. —THE BATTLER,