The Waihi Strike.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 76, 23 August 1912, Page 3

The Waihi Strike.

Small Shareholders. Some very funny communications reach the strike committee at times. Recently a gentleman in Auckland wrote asking the union to endeavor to sottle the trouble, as a lot of small shareholders were suffering keenly and were not receiving strike pay. He pointed out that he was depending on his shares for a living, and, of course, he knew the usual widow with her usual struggles, etc., etc. If the small shareholders were to only wake up to the huge oonlidenco game that is !.being, played upon them by the big i guns and ask a few questions at the directors' offices, something of a startlI ing nature might take place. Parry and Socialist Parties. The more militant workers of New Zealand will be deeply interested in the following statement, especially that intellectual few so advanced as to consider Socialist parties superfluous. President Parry says, in relation to his trip to the East Coast: "I am now thoroughly convinced that the argument that industrial organisation has a better chance to grow where there is no Socialist party in existence is so much balderdash." Mr. Parry further states that in many Labor circles a Federationist '9 looked upon with suspicion and the feeling of kindred is generally absent. There is not that spirit of comradeship that is so marked in Socialist circles in the anti-Socialist localities or where no Socialist party is in existence. The moral is for all workers to form a Socialist party in their locality if none already exists, and help to spread the tidings that means emancipation for their class. , Amusements. The Strike Entertainment Committee has the hearty support of the yorkers of Waihi. "Laugh and the world laughs with you" is the maxim of Waihi strikers. Dancing is still very freely indulged in and the trippers of the light fantastic do not appear to fee tiring of the exercise. On an average three dances a week are held. A gratifying feature of the gatherings is the splendid feeling of comradeship existing, which makes in a large measure the successful meetings. Young and old vie with each other —no thoughts of night-shift or day-shift worrying tho dancers. Quoit-playing is another favorite game much played. Howard's Visit. Mr. Ted. Howard, member of the Federation Executive, was in Waihi recently on private business, and was invited by the union to address a meeting of members. The meeting was wellattended and enthusiastic. Vice-presi-dent McLennan was in the chair. The speaker soon made himself a firm favorite with the members, his cool

Official Report from the Scene of Action.

and calm manner of dealing with his subject being heartily appreciated. • He has a splendid grasp oi the practical part of organising Labor, and is quite content to leave the theoretical art to the theorists. Mr. Howard dealt with the general work or' the organisation, and pointed out that industrial organisation was a ranch different thing in practice than theorising on a, soap-box. To-day tho average unionist imagined that his trouble was the trouble of tho whole world. Ho saw only from his own backyard. Thcro was an immense, amount of propaganda work to be still done inNNc r Zealand. Ho reviewed the Kaita-ngata dispute, and explained the full facts of the case. Referring to his more southern trips, lie declared that the rank arid file of Labor organisations were undoubtedly with the Federation in sympathy, hut the paid official element was decidedly antagonistic. The speaker also dealt with hcvor.nl executive matters, and said that some considered mistakes had been made" l>y the executive. This no doubt was true, but they were but human, and when the executive of any organisation ceased to make mistakes, they would havo grown wings, and then God help those over whose heads they flew. They had to have a day of reckoning with the master-class—it could not he put oft". If tho present strike lasted till Christmas the greatest , flight would bo put up that* Now Zealand had ever known. He was convinced that the strikers held the trump card and must win. The meeting was also addressed for a few minutes by Mr. J. O'Brien, a member of the Auckland Laborers' Union, who was in Waihi on business. Three ringing cheers for the Federation concluded a splendid meeting. Charitable Aid Board, Waihi, like most other towns in God's own poverty-banished country, possesses a Charitable Aid Board. A case of genuine distress was recently brought under the, Board's notice by the Strike Committee, and the- chairman of the. Board (Mr. P. Donaldson, J.P., and local clergyman} visited- the person concerned, whom he told that "of course they could receive assistance from the Board, but he strongly advised them not to apply, as the ■Miners' Union had caused the, trouble, in Waihi and should assist the case,." He further stated that, "in the event of aid being granted by the Board, the recipient's name would he published in every town in New Zealand." Now, the secretary of tho Board states that the names of persons who receive assistance are published for the information of charitable aid boards only, and not for tho general public, so Mr. Donaldson's autocratic action will take a good deal of explaining away. No doubt) the Mine-owners' Association would delight in seeing the union aiding all and sundry, even to strike-cursed shopkeepers. It would be, a splendid strifesmashing proposition indeed.