"Agreements are Worthless."

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 71, 19 July 1912, Page 6

"Agreements are Worthless."

A LONDON OPINION

Some -remarks concerning the position of Labor in the mining industry in New Zealand were made by Mr. George Rotherwell. as president of a mooting of the Waihi Grand Junction Gold Mining Company in London our —"Evening Post"—correspondent under dato May 17). He said that shortly after the Lost annual meeting tho company heard that the Minj ers' Union, which was affiliated to the .Federation of Labor, bad withdrawn from registration under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The agreement made between the Miners' Union and tho employers did not expire until next month, when it waH rather expectled that there might be trouble. But, to the company's complete surprise, a cablegram was received a few days ago [■Baying that tho -union, without giving any notice, had called ont all the men in the mine, not on account/ of any dispute concerning the Grand Junction, bufl because tho winding-men had seen fit to form a nnion of their own, to .which the Miners' Union objected. That strike involved Hilie stoppage of all work •on the Waihi goldtiolds, and it was impossible to say how long it would Inst. • The settlement would now have •to be, made with the Owners' Association, and it was to bo hoped that its terms would cover all possiblo grounds of dispute.

Mr. L. Welstoad remarked later that what the chairman had said n.s to the Labor question seriously affected not only tho Waihi Grand Junction, but ali the New Zealand mines, and he was glad to know that tho whole of the mining Interests In that country, both north and south, were now united, and were unanimously agreed as to their course of action. He wished to know whether the board on this side would support' any action they might take in the ;mafter. The .Chairman replied that the board approved the action and wished to preserve united action. The Chairman said further, that be was very sorry to meet the shareholders in such painful circumstances. The position was most annoying. Thoy had an agreement with the men which was not supposed to expire until next month. They thought for certain they were all right until then, but now, on a matter upon which thcro was no dispute at all with the company, and without a moment's warning, they received a telegram to say the, men were called out on account of a dispute between their union and another. Mr. S. Lee: No agreements with Labor are any value nowadays. The Chairman: No: they ate worthless.