THE THAMES TRIP.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 65, 7 June 1912, Page 8

THE THAMES TRIP.

When the Striko Committee decided to call a strike at tho l'aeroa Goid Extraction Co.'s works, the following telegram was forwarded to tlio secretary of tho Thames Miners' Union: "strike declared l'aeroa. Refrain from enrolling members in or from that, district. Adviso your members to keep away." Iv answer to that tho following wire was received from the Thames Union:—"Cannot understand your wire re striko at Paoroa, which is in our district and outside your jurisdiction." A delegate was then sent,to Thames to arrange a meeting of the Union to hear 'delegates from Waihi on the strike question. On approaching the secretary, he was informed by the latter that he could not call a meeting, the president having that power. On interviewing the president, he pointblank refused to call a meeting. The Inspector of Awards, ho said, was in Thames, and had advised them to be very careful what liey did in connection with tho Waihi strike. It was then decided, in view of tho hostilo attitude of the Thames Union officials, to call an open-air meeting on May L'o. A largo crowd gathered around the speakers—Messrs. McLennan, Riley, and Marshall. Tho men appeared very anxious for news, and gave a splendid hearing to the speakers. The young fellows were very enthusiastic, but the older hands cling to craft unionism and arbitration, with an energy sad to behold. A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered. The general feeling of the men was decidedly against the action of tlio officials iii refusing to call a meeting. The capitalistic press is making great capital out of the singing of ""Rule Britannia" at tho conclusion of tho meeting by a few drunken men. It is also worthy of note that the,few "ob.jeeiors" were not members of the Union at all. The action of the Thames officials may bo gauged from tSlie fact that the wreiary is also special agent for tho "lii-rald" newspaper, coroner, men's inspector, etc "Thames unionism" has for many years been a reproach -Mid a byword, and tbe recent attitude adopted is not calculated to remove that stigma. It is confidently hoped, however, that in the very near futis.'e a ehangc will be mado in the "unionism" of Thames.