Strike and Lock-out.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 77, 30 August 1912, Page 1

Strike and Lock-out.

News and Views.

Sixteenth week —and going stronger. » * * Cables to Glover:— "Wiring fifty pounds Waihi-Reefton miners, with succesg.—Holman, sets. Western Australia Federated Timber Workers' Union." "Barrier Labor Federation recommend doubling levy; sure carry.— Webb." * * * Three affiliations ha-ve passed the £1000 post. Who'll be tho next? * * * Semple is at the West Coast, Howard at Christchurch, Fraser at Auckland, Parry at Waiiii —and other executive men aa per usual. «■ * * Item cabled to Australian papers: "Tho Federation of Labor is striving desperately to prolong the Waihi strike." Meant to infer, of course, that the strike was nearly collapsing. Whereas —well, the other side and its satellites are positively staggered. * # * At a meeting of the Waihi men a letter from a small shareholder was read, and caused much amusement. Tlie substance of the letter wns that "if tho trouble did not soon terminate, many small shareholders would suffer and perhaps have to fall back on their friends," which the writer said was "anything but pleasant." He was very pathetic regarding the "cruel position of a widow" lie knew who had all her savings invested in the mines and was '■in a bad way, NOT RECEIVING ANY STRIKE PAY." Referring to mooted employment of scab labor for Waihi, a correspondent of weight writes: "Personally, I am pleased at the company moving. They are beginning to get tired of the fight, ;.( th,nk. a few scab? will give Mnssey a chance to send up police and then intervene forcibly in tho interests of law and order. It may compel that is their dodge." * *■ * Some days ago, says the "Otago Daily Times" of August 20, the men employed in the Green Island coal mines— ■■ Christie's, the Jubilee and Freeman's— forwarded'to the owners certain demands as regards higher Tates of pay and conditions of labor. The workers employed at these mines are members of a union which is affiliated to the Federation of Labor, and we understand that the owners have now replied to them to the effect that, first of all, any hew agreement entoeid into between the parties must be filed in the Arbitration Court and made an award under the Act.

In last issue, under the subheading of "R-eefton's Prolonged Battle" in the review oi strike and look-out the July referred to was July of last year. In Parry' ** Wellington speech the other week the 11,000 members of the Reefton Union should have been printed 1100. # * * Press Association messages : —"ln re-

potatoes were planted in "Sleepy Hollow."

That ever since toeu the day has been religiously observed as an annual holiday on whicli the town and country residents busy themselves in planting the profitable "pratie." That the New Zealand politicians who are scheming for a rise in screw are only falling into line with their Commonwealth contemporaries.

That the New South Wales Assembly is now considering a Bill raising the salaries of members to £500 a year. That the members of the Federal House

of Representatives not long ago voted themselves a big increase of salary -r-frora £8 to £12 a week.

That both in New Zealand and Australia the politicians place a very high value on their services to the country.

That £G a week all the year round for a few months' work is ample recompense; when the ability of the average M.P. is considered.

The Campaign for Workingclass Triumph.

gard to the report from Waihi that the Waihi Company is issuing circulars in Auckland to obtain men to start work in the mines, Mr. Rhodes, managing director of the Waihi Company, denies ihat any such circular is being issued from the company's office. Several men had waited on him, and urged the company to employ free labor, but hia reply was that if they could show that there were sufficient free laborers wanting work at Waihi there was no reason why work should not be given out at the mines, but the company had not been looking for men."

"In regard to the possibility of free laborers coming to Wadhi, _Ir. Parry in addressing a mass meeting, said that he had written to the Federation of Labor asking the officials to interview the head of the railway workers' union requesting the latter not to carry free laborers. If free laborers come to Waihi it- would be necessary to have an organised campaign to meet themA reply had been received from Mr. Glover stating that 'he would interview tlie union as requested. Mr. Parry added that it would be necessary to have 30 or 40 men at the committee's disposal in the event of free laborers coming here. Ho added: "The police and military would only be too pleased to put a portion of last Sunday's dinner on the end of a piece of cold steel." * « * At a meeting at Waihi last week the following resolutions were carried unanimously :— "(1) That thi3 meeting of women of Waihi expresses the utmost confidence in the executive of" the N.Z.F.L. in connection with tihe fight. "(_) That this meeting of women earnestly appeals to the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants .to absolutely refuse to run any trains carrying free labor to the Waihi ; mines, as in onr opinion it would be a capitalistic move to crush our organisation and force us by underhand methodback under arbitral-ion. We further call upon the Seamen's Union to act in a like manner should occasion arise." ** ' s Australia and the Waihi Strike. A recommendation from the executive committee was submitted at a meeting of the Sydney Labor Council. It was in effect, says the "Sydney Morning Herald," that no support should'be given to the Waihi strikers, as the dispute was not with the employers, but against the rights of the engine-drivers and firemen. Support had also been refused by the Wellington and Auckland Labor Councils. Mr. W. O'Brien (Furniture Trades) said that a body which was prepared to take a militant stnnd rather than ar-rept anything if might secure by arbitration was probably more closely allied to them thai* either the Wellington or the Auckland Labor Councils. He thought the Sydney Council would be lacking in duty and loyalty if it turned the appeal down,.

There was a long discussion, during which the action of the executive wa3 supported by several speakers. Mr. W. O'Connor (Coal Lumpers) said that some- of the speeches in defence, of the executive made him imagine that he was at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce or of the Employers' Federation. (Laughter.) His union had given £100, and he trusted that the Council would give (substantial support.

The executive's recommendation was carried by 61 votes to 58.

Other reports credit . Mr*. O'Brien with stating that the. Federation of Labor in New Zealand was fighting an organisation in a capitalist-ridden Dominion. New Zealand was badly in need of some militant organisation. Mr. Craigie also opposed the recommendation, which he characterised as a disgraceful one. It showed a lukewarm feeling. He was against truckling to arbitration and other things.

The engine-drivers of Waihi (N.Z.) have issued a manifesto. It accuses the Federation of Labor of "doubtful ethics," "Red Socialism," "atheism," and "anti-defence tactics," the same having "brought the drivers under the ban of well-deserved ridicule shown by all decent men." The manifesto calls

it a "weird classification of mankind" when the Federation says: "If a man is not a worker he is either a robber or a rogue." The drivers are evidently a body of anti-Socialists, godly, militarist, decent men, who believe that a man can live honestly without working. No wonder that the drivers have the support of. the capitalists and their press. They are quite respectable, loyal, patriotic, and full of the foolish prejudices of the unthinking. — "International Socialist."

A correspondent to the Alexandra "Herald," by name of A. Ashworth, and daring to sign his name in that respectable quarter to a letter defending the Federation, actually had his letter interrupted with an editorial remark. Note: "Who pays this money? Is it not the men who put these leaders in these positions? And cannot they at short notice remove them? I fail to see anything out of reason in the figures considering the amount of travelling and work (whether good or bad, we are not to judge) that had to be done in connection with organising, fixing up agreements. [To be "chucked to hell" when it suits.—Ed. "A.H."] The men belonging to that hody seem to be satisfied that they sire gaining by paying in, in improved conditions and wages. Labor, if it is to take the place in this Dominion that I think it is destined to Ml, must have organisation." Now, who said "chucked," you rascal ?