In Australia.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 75, 16 August 1912, Page 2

In Australia.

Continued Support. COLD AND COPPER MINERS STRIKE LEVY. OFF TO WESTRALIA. P. H. Hickey writes: Tho success mcii with ia Cobar attended my efforts in Whritsvillo. This union, of some 400 members, is the most promising organisation I have encountered in New South Wales. A greater percentage of its numbers attended my meeting than was the case elsewhere, and the enthusiasm displayed was decidedly encouraging. As at Cobar, a levy was imposed, and a suf of money ordered to be immediately forwarded. President Green and Secretary Buckland did all in their power to ensure satisfactory results. At both Cobar and AVhritsville I met quite a number of New Zealand miners. It did one good to meet these stalwart comrades, who are fighting the good fight in their respective organisations. Everywhere I met an ex-member of the N.Z.F.L., I met a comrade staunch and true. I met supporters who did not merely confine their support to words of sympatfr*T"oTTt rallied their mates -i.ud .uwdo them attend meetings',-and thus ensured material tf-sistance for the men, women and children of Waihi and Reefton. It is good to meet these men. It is good to feel the clasp of their hand and the words ef welcome and assurances of assistance. It is better still to find them changing shifts or losing shifts to attend union meetings to help their comrades of Zealand. These are the men who make the movement possible, men who are prepared to expend something besides wind. Whenever I hear the greeting, "Paddy, how are you?" and turn to meet an old acquaintance, I know that here is a unionist who is going to do something more than, merely look on. He is going to get out and see to it that his mates do that which counts. Wednesday I visited Cambelego, some 30 miles from Cobar, where about 400 gold miners are engaged. I addressed an open-air meeting of members of the Miners,' Wood-getters', and Engine-drivers' Unions, each organisation represented pledging itself to strike a levy. Thursday I left for Sydney, reaching there Friday morning. I met Webb, and after discussing the situation, it was decided that it would be wise to pay Westralia a visit as soon as possible. I booked my passage accordingly. President Webb has been on the South Coast since his arrival, and has met with great success. After visiting Lithgow, he goes south to Victoria and Tasmania. The only day's recreation indulged in by either of us was on Friday, July 26. We had a few hours to spare,, and attended the Chapman-Alexander mission service. Speaking for myself, I may say I enjoyed the service. Alexander is an organiser of the first order, and had his vast audience absolutely under control. They sang hymns, standing up and sitting down; they prayed loudly or silently, according to orders. He called for volunteers to do this or that, and the volunteers wero forthcoming. One could feel the Alexander influence taking hold of the minds of that audience and moulding it as he wanted it. When the emotions of the crowd had reached concert pitch or "preaching pitch," Chapman appeared and delivered-a sermon apropos to nothing in particular, but in which he played upon the emotions of his hearers to such an extent that to question the validity of the rib story would have been regarded as a crime. Chapman exhorted the business men to lock themselves in their office for five minutes every morning and indulge in prayer. "Get into communication with Jesus," he thundered. Good idea! What, about Evans, of Reefton, or the Waihi dividend-grabbers taking Chapman's advice? We left the service with cfur bumps of spirituality considerably developed. Whether Webb or myself will indulge in five minutes' prayer each morning is another matter. We have been accused of saying our prayers te Karl Marx. We may keep that custom -till. Friday we visited Helensburgh, South Coast, and addressed the local miners' lodge. At least, Webb did. There was present an ex-resident or Runanga. Paddy's face was wreathed in a smile of pleasure. "How are you, comrade?" he shouted, Tushi"-- -towards him. After shaking h-ind-i. Paddy asked: "What sort of organisation liave you got here?" "No -blanky good," wrts the reply. "You have to sink your blanky props six inches.' After Webb and myself were brought to consciousness the meeting proceeded. Saturday morning we returned to Sydney and at noon I said good-bye to Sydney, and am now en route to the Golden West. Wolgoa, July 28.