SPECIAL DELECATION TO HORAHORA.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 64, 31 May 1912, Page 7

SPECIAL DELECATION TO HORAHORA.

IMPRESSIONS OF DELEGATES.

A FIELD FOR ORGANISATION.

On Monday of last week a special delegation was sent to Ilora-llora. comiirising Messrs. 11. Melroso and J. Kelly. They were joined along the lino by f. 11. Mat shall, President of lluntly miners. At llora-llora, a big work is in progress in connection with the installation of the hydro-electrical transmission plant, which i« intended to supply the Waihi Company with electricity. This work is being eagerly pushed on by the company, and if it could bo stopped during the present upheaval it would seriously alit-ct the company, Accordingly, tins above-mentioned delegates proceeded lo Tittiti, arriving there at 5 p.m.. after an 11-hour trip in the train. After a hasty lunch, ilicy immediately proceeded to floraHora, M miles distant, per boot, no conveyance being available. After a hard three ami n-hali" hoars' walk, they reached their destination. :n!y to find tlie men iv bod. Next: morning was sun I in investigating lite works and noting conditions. At diniit r-time the mission of the dolegates was aiii.oitui t-d t-,- the men. ami

a meeting arranged for G.lfi after tea. Further investigation was carried on in the afternoon, which was intorruptedy by the delegates being requested to sec the superintendent of tho works. This gentleman, when informed of their mission, offered no objection to their addressing the men. About 80 men are employed on the works, and 70 rolled up to the meeting. T. If. Marshall occupied the chair, and gave a splendid account of the strike at Waihi, and made a great impression. He explained the necessity for Industrial Unionism in a very clear' manner. Mr. 11. Melrose also addressed tho meeting, clearing away many misrepresentations. The only paper containing news of the strike procurable on the job was the Auckland "Herald," so it is no wonder false impressions were rampant amongst the men on this question. There is no form of organisation among the- men at all, ,'ind_ihe delegates are strongly of the opinion that with a little, trouble a union could ue formed. One strong point, however. to overcome is that the population is a very shifting one; it apparently being a "pull-up" lor ''very still nageslaves." Maoris predominate en .!..: job, but so interested were they in the new gospel that they requested the speaker to send a Maori speaker on "Unionism" to them, in order to become more conversant with the matter. The working conditions are far from being perfect. The wwrk is very W't underfoot in the excavation wok. Forty-five hours constitute a neel-.v work; -18s. Iking the rowan!. I: is no uncommon sight to see l? 0 in- ,t0 men dismissed in one day. and a Ites'i batch arrive in a day or so. An instance may be quoted. Men working oil the wet desired a change to a dry plact, the company offering a rise Is. per shift if the men would stay where they were. The men persisted ; their demands, and received their discharge. Owing to the complicated and isolated position of the works, it would require further consideration on the part of the strike officials. This is aKo a n sitter for the Federation to com-idoi. and demands prompt action. Thr Maou»i,ani) Wohkkk is distributed locally by a number of be vs. each week. To-dnv. tin v sent a deoutation to the eomiuittoc. stating that while the strike was on they would deliver the papers free. Needless to say, the boys' action was In art-ily appreciated.