Waihi and Reefton.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 64, 31 May 1912, Page 8

Waihi and Reefton.

It is a busy and an anxious time in Wellington, the headquarters of the Waihi strike and the Reefton lock-out, and also the scene, of the big conference. The conjunction of upheavals and conference is adding tremendously to the seriousness of the occasion, and in more ways than one the sitting conference is likely to make history. Let- the Fedcrationists at Waihi and Reefton grip tightly the fact that 50 delegates from all parts of the Dominion are working with might and main to help the strikers and tbe lockedout. Their disputes overshadow all else for the time being, nnd not a sitting of conference but what has Waihi and Reefton iv view. At the same time, con Terence was called together to do special and necessary work, and tin's the delegates — meaning business to a man and finely determined and militant withal- -are also striving to do well and strongly. Few know more than they that, it is also a busy and an anxious time at' Waihi and Reefton. We do not purpose bore dealing villi the merits or demerits of the strike and lock-out. It is pre-eminently a time for action. And the Executive and the conference are acting. As the outcome of their grappling with tbe situation the Manifesto printed on this page lias been sent throughout New Zealand. That manifesto is the Federation view of the trouble and tho Federation answer to its challengers. Nothing could be more indicative of the earnestness of delegates than tho unanimous and enthusiastic decision to make a levy on all Federationists cf 10 per cent, of their weekly earnings. We aro confident that the response will be practical and inspiring, and that funds will ho promptly forthcoming. It is a great privilege to be able to help a fellow-worker fighting for princfpla and oreservation sg«ins_ fearful odd*.

Wo trust that unionists uot of tho Federation will aUo realise that in a striko all unionism must bo for that strike, or working-class organisation be injured and working-class solidarity be a by-word. Help!—and quickly. By special request, wo insert tho manifestoes issued at Waihi, and wo point out that engine-drivers all over the country, and as a Federation in addition, aro not with but rather against their alleged colleagues at Waihi. Auckland, in particular, knows something of tho curious character of the few disrupters at Waihi. That was a remarkable document produced by Mr. Parry at conference, in which over 50 of the men for whom the now union was alleged to be formed signed personally a profession of their loyalty to tho Waihi Miners' Union. Tho crux of tho fight at Waihi is the right of 99 per cent, to control organisation and to assert tho principle of ono union for one industry. One per cent, of the workers would wreck 99 per cent. It is sectionalism gone mad. It is a repudiation of democracy. It- is peril and betrayal. Let due notice be taken of that statement the Executive was compelled to issue as protection and as corrective in respect to the deliberate misstatements appearing in tho newspapers. Conference has recognised that the trouble having boon handed to the- Executive it is the duty of the Executive to deal with it. Tho first thing the Executive did was to arrange a conference with the Mine Owners' Association, and this was to take place on Wednesday of this week. At time of writing, Messrs. Parry, Si tuple, Armstrong and Crowley are on their way to Auckland and Waihi. On their return conference will deal further with tho question. In tho meantime, everybody should prepare for the worst. If it prove otherwise, so much the betf--. In any case, the fight is always on. Victory does not come of itself —it is compelled. Yen must bo their own emancipator,-*.