Strike and Lock-out.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 76, 23 August 1912, Page 1

Strike and Lock-out.

News and Views.

Upon receipt of the manifesto issued by the notorious organisation known to shame as the Ohinemuri Engine-drivers' Union, Mr. John Payne, M.P., sent the- following reply: "Your action in being a party to a set scheme for undermining industrial unionism has no sympathy at my hands." Good boy, John. * * * Talking to a Dunedin "Star" reporter of the agreement between the F.L. and Australia, Harry Holland said he was satisfied that the day the Federation notify the Australian miners of serious trouble the terms of the agreement will be exercised within 24 hours. provided, of course, thnt the Australian men are asked to supply New Zealand orders. The coal lumpers at Sydney would also refuse to handle coal for New Zealand. With regard to arbitration in New Zealand Mr. Holland is convinced that the system will break down owing to its coercive conditions. «- * * A press wire from Dunedin on Aug. 14 stated that "the. colliery employees at Kaitangata have announced their intention of dismissing all men notaffiliated to the Arbitration Union." At Waihi, the dispute is called an internal union one, where the bosses DON'T want the strong anti-arbitration union to win ; at Kaitangata, where the bosses have the arbitrationists strong, they show their preference more directly. Blazing signal. * » * Mr. McKnight, of Auckland, who has returned from Australia after a month in Queensland representing the New Zealand Federation of Labor, states thsflft he addressed 41 unions, and was responsible for quite a large sum being voted to the Waihi and Reefton strike funds. In Brisbane, he says, the Labor Party is splendidly organised. A strike occurred at the Seddoiiville State mine on August 14. .It appears that a few men rehired to p?y the lew for 'die miners at Waihi and Reef ton. and the other men refused to work with them. In consequence, all work ceased. A meeting of ville miners held next morning decided to resume work on the following day. It is stated that the two men who had not paid levies are now willing to do so. * * * Wired on August 15 Hint the Auckland Tramways Union ibeider] that d;-v to continue the 2s. levy towards Waihi and Reefton strike fund for 13 more weeks only; after tint voluntary subscription lists will be placed at the depots. * y- * J. B. Kins had left Waihi for Australia before the outcry acalnst him and in complete ignorance of what was pending. It is said that State officers knew this when action was threatened. * * * Lovely lie sent to Australia by Tom Walsh, of the Auckland Gapon organ: "The position is such that the Federation of Labor representatives refuse to even allow meetings to be held that are not- organised by the Federation itself, and does its best to break such meetings up." They'll stop at no devilry. * * Howard returned to Wellington on Wednesday, 14th., and at once proceeded to Kaitangata.

The Campaign for WorkingcJass Triumph.

Send for a few Worker posters and have them placarded in your district. . * At a recent meeting the Gisborne Watorside Workers passed a resolution extending sympathy with "our fellowworkers" in trouble at Waihi and Reefton. They also decided to collect subscriptions among the members <n the men's behalf. -::• * * THE SCAB. Wherever the bitter fight is on, For life 'gainst human greed; Where the workers rally ere h< pc is gone. That nerves for the valiant deed. When tho price is paid in silent pain, In want and in nameless dread, And the victory near, then the scabs sneak in Like ghouls that rob the dead. They pluck from a vine they did not prune; They reap where they have not sown, With a canting look and a craven heart. And a soul that is not their own. In a darker age when the world was young This jackal human crew Skulked in the rear when the fight was on, And preyed on the valiant few. They snatched the bone from a woman's hand, And snarled at a hungeTed child, Till the heroes perished from out the land, And earth's gardens became a wild. And ever and ever, where human greed Holds the human race in thrall, The fight will be fought by the nobler few, Ancl the victory sbtved by al' Then falter not till the fight is won ; There are only your fears to dread ; Though cowards skulk and scabs creep in Like ghouls that rob the dead. —Selected. * # * Resolution by Auckland Waterside Workers' Union: That this union condemns in the strongest possible way the false statements which appeared in Tuesday's "Herald" of the Gth inst.. under the heading of •'Labor Notes," to the effort thati i'oo Waihi miners have joined the A.W.W.U., and that the scarcity of work en the wharf is attributed to •this influx. Seeing that only one member of the Waihi Union has joined this union since the strike, this union can only come to the conclusion that such a statement was deliberately made in order to injure the cause of the Waihi men.—Yours faithfully, J. COLLETT, Secretary. ' * * * The following letter has been received by Mr. Glover:— Dear Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that the Labor Council of N.S.W. lias decided not to issue an appeal for financial assistance on behalf of the Miners' Unions on strike in connection with the disputes at Waihi mid Reefton, the following resolution being carried at our last meeting, Thursday, Bth inst.: "The Wellington and Auckland Labor Councils having turned down the appeal on the grounds that the dispute is not with the employers, but against the right of a body of men (engine-drivers and firemen) to have a separate union, your executive council recommends that no appeal be issued by this Council." As you will see by the resolution, my council has been guided by the decision of the Wellington and Auckland Labor Councils, it being our practice to consult the local Labor Council in such matters.—Yours faithfully, C. J. KAVANAGH, Secretary. Jubilate, ye councils. Some Timaru stalwarts are putting up a brave battle on behalf of the Federation as against pres3, unity schemers, and trades council- A press letterwriter named G. Macdonald has been challenged to publicly debate the question of Federationism v. Arbitration. Our friend the vice-president of the Timaru Waterside Workers (T. H. Carll) will uphold the F.L.