The Waihi Strike.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 71, 19 July 1912, Page 7

The Waihi Strike.

The Situation. The position in Waihi is unchanged. Strike pay is being received freely, nnd ample funds have como to hand to satisfy all local wants. Games, etc., aro freely indulged in by tho strikers, quoit tournaments, draught conteste, and card matches being the order of tho day. The newspapers aro greatly tipsot at tho magnificent display of class-consciousness by tho wago-slaves of Broken Hill. The press know that when tho workers are class loyal defeat Dover can overtake them. That Pianist—the True Story. There appears to bo a deliberate attempt amongst a section of the wharf- ■ Slaves of Wellington to resort to any action whatever in order to exhibit their biassed spleou against the Federation of Jjabor. Th© local paper came Out with flashing headlines, informing the world of a "splendid deed" performed by some Wellington watersiders. Tho "deed" consisted of a cheque for somo £8, for the poor lady who Was forced out of employment by the boycott of tho union. Of course, the capitalistic press made much capital out of this lot. Thoy could see "dissonsion in the workers' Tanks" and a "speedy collapse of the strike." Of course!

It seems that a section of the watereiders placed themselves at the doorways of the various shipping companies on a recent pay-day, and solicited subscriptions for a "poor girl" who was practically penniless as a result of a union boycott in Waihi.

Now, what a.ro the facts of tho case?. : Prior to tho strike. Fuller and Sons had a branch of the picture enterprise running in Waihi. Without any intimation whatever the pianist was dismissed and tho man who replaced him did so at a much lower salary. Tho Btriko was on at this timo, and the new pianist was a member of tho Workers' Union. At the conclusion of the first performance of the picture show with tho new pianist, some unknown person wroto upon the union blackboard which stands outside the office that " was undercutting —— at Fullers' Pictures. Use ilio boycott." Now, when tho strikers saw that notice— well, thoy acted as advised.

Tho manager of the pictures wrote to the union a little later, stating that he bad dismissed the, man objected to, and hoped all would bo right, etc, etc.

Things went on as usual after tibis until it was found out that the wife of one of those creatures who masquerade as men, and who was, and is still, working in the Waihi Company's battery, was tho pianist at Fuller's. Tho strikers (not the union) used a _it of direct action again—so direct was it that Fuller's picture show is now closed in Waihi until further notice. Capitalist Methods. Boycotts, lock-outs, and intimidation havo all been used against tho Waihi miners long before, and since, tho Btriko. Tho strikers of Waihi realise that in fighting the masters of the bread tho wage-slaves must uso any and every weapon that will help them win their fight. Wo are not children, that can bo lulled to believe that somo tilings aro "too strong" and "not respectable." We are fighting, and make no bonos about itl Parry among the Unions. President Parry thus recounted his impressions of recent trip:— At Wbangarci the union was just in its infancy, and was battling strenuously against the cowardly and brutal attempts of tho employing class to smash tho union. Ho was greatly pleased to find such a staunch little body of men, and prophesied that in tho very near future the Whartgarei Union would be ono of the most militant organisations jn New Zealand. Tho Hiku-.-angi Union was next visited, and tho men hero wero feeling very sore over their recent ease in connection with the Federation, but after hearing tho full text of the position, tho men wore unanimous in accepting the official report. There was no staunclier nnion in the Federation than the IlikuTangi Union, and the wliolo misunderstanding arose over tho pernicious and cowardly action of their flown secretary.

Tin- Limestone, Island Union was another active little union, and a 2s. levy

Official Report from the Scene of Action.

W. E. Parry on Some Visited Unions.

was agreed to, but when they heaid the Federation delegate's views tin v unanimously decided to levy jhein selves the full 10 per cent. 'Tho President also gave an account of the dusty occupation, of the men, which be i likened to the dust nuisance in the Waihi battery of bygone years. In connection with Auckland unions, every organisation addressed had resulted in successful meetings. One prominent feature, that met bis'eye-at almost every turn was the large number of unions and unionists who did not understand the first principles of unionism, and consequently they were bitterly opposed to anything of a revolutionary nature against the encroachments of the master-class. Despite the tales of Unity Schemers' and fakir labor leaders, the labor movement of Auckland was in a-very backward condition. The public had conceived the idea that t'he workers of Waihi were savages and barbarians, and nothing that we do surprises them. In connection with this matter, tho speaker related the following instance: A farmer from tho north had arrived in Auckland and was quite convinced that tho burglaries being committwi in the city were being done by the Waihi strikers 1 Upon being taxed with what ho know about the Waihi strikers, he admitted, tinder severe cross-examina-tion, that be bad only met a few Waihi miners, and that was last Christ mas. when, owing to the crowded accommodation of the hotels and boardinghouses in Auckland, nearly a dozen of them were staying m rather "crushed circumstances" together, and that the stories and company of tie men from Waihi was the best lie had ever met! This was all ho knew abeut the .strikers, and yet he condemned (hem. Tlteye wore the sort of men who provided interviews for the capitalist press. Tho speaker also f tore ban;ly crticised the actions ol scab o: gaeijvi s j,, Waihi. An 'Cribble Letter. Kince tho inaimuration of the present labor dispute, the local pi.per. the "Daily Telegraph," has been very freely used by bitter antagonists of the present strike, mostly by "leading citizens." A prominent member of tin union recently wrote a le:i<_r !o tho paper, but the publication was denbd. In an editorial note the lo!!.. v. m;.; ;.p----peared: "In tho intertsi-s o! decency, we decline to insert so disgraceful a letter. In your references to certain individuals a nature is- d.'selos. •■) <■)' which vim ought to be ashamed." Seeing that a very grave reflection has boxui cast upon his character, Mr. Richards road the letter at a benefit concert, and the audience showed their appreciation of it in no uncertain manner. At a following meeting of th" union tho letter was road again, and received many rounds of applause. A motion condemning the attitude of the paper in condemning ono of our members, and also heartily endorsing Lis notion wok unanimously carried. We print tho letter in order to shew what the workers in God's own country can expect from tiho press. Sir, —Oh! the significance of thatfateful question to the would-be "Fos-ter-parent of a rival union—delivered Juno 23, 19.12. The question verbatim: "Is it not a fact that the speaker, with a certain newspaper proprietor not far distant, is working strenuously trying to bring into existence what Is termed a scab union r" Although denied pi ivately to the questioner, no public answer was forthcoming until June _S. when tho said couple entered the Academy Theatre, taking up strategic positions at each end of the building. Foster being attended by a "Haldnutt," or rather a ''Wallnutt" reporter from the Mcllobio newspaper offico as an "independent" chairman —forsooth! assisted by a "tool" or a "toy." as chronicler of events, chronicling for that classconscious paper, the "N.Z. Herald" in particular, Mollobie. in. bis lofty position on the gallery, being supported Inconsiderable numbers of tho "petit bourgeois" class—both sections apparently with the avotyod purpose of hoodwinking tho proletariat, or common working-class, into the alleged scab union or scab move, which is one and the name. Did they succeed? Well, if thoso walls could only speak, what a perpetual memorial could be perpetuated of such a dastardly outrage on the

common people's common sense. After the gag had been applied—-by the would-be "frv.ter-paront"—in the intimation that he would not allow any member of the organisation to refute 01 question any of tho mis-statements tha, ho was about to make, the whole proletarian army arose in a body and quit, leaving only a few "petit bourgeois." or so-called middle-class, to imbibe and re-echo tdte sentiments which they we eagerly grasp and teitcrate—that of sending the. miners back to work; conditions, of course, with them don't count. After all the negative procedure had been gone through and deliberated upon by the companies' official, McRobie stepped forward and moved a vote of thanks, eulogising the speaker. Significant, was it not? and is there no connection between tho foregoing and the question asked by your humble servant of the speaker the previous Sunday. A close analysis of the report of that fateful meeting, together with subsequent events, will prove the authenticity of the question.—l am, yours etc., ' AY. .10. RICHARDS. Seddon Avenue. Waihi. Items. At a mass meeting of tho union itwas decided to send back the Mayor his letter refeired to last week. Vice-president McLonnan fjevc a detailed account of his visit to Auckland in connection with Waihi miners working there without obtaining clearances and other relative matters. He also gave an account of his experiences with tho Federation delegates in visiting various industrial unions in Auckland.