The Waihi Strike.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 77, 30 August 1912, Page 5

The Waihi Strike.

Hally and Order.

The flag of revolt still flics; conciliation agents come and go, but the fight still

rcigneth supreme

Mr. "Conciliator" Hally got a very "mellow-dramatic" yarn off his chest to the inevitable reporter about revol-ver-carrying in Waihi by the scab element. San Diego (Mexico) atrocities and Wild West pictures were a fool to the mental picture of Waihi's lawlessness. But the satisfactory condition of Waihi, viewed from a "law and order" standpoint, is not by any means due to the. scab faction, who have, as previously, mentioned in these notes, persistently tantalised and aggravated the strikers. ' No doubt after recent editorials in an alleged "Voice of* Labor" the tools of the master-class will be huirging themselves at the way that pimping sheet congratulates them on their pusillanimous propensities. Sanitation. The Strike Committee has issued the following:— "The allegations and interviews that •h-c published in the press from time to time are such as can only be expected from the class and its satellites whose interests are antagonistic to those of the workers; consequently, denials, etc., from the strike officials is a needless waste of valuable time. I

"In reference to Mr. Hally's statement, as reported in the press of yesterday, regarding tho sanitation of the town, in the interests of public health the following is necessary: On August 5 it was reported to the sanitary inspector that two full-grown cows were lying in the main water race which feeds the public reservoir, in a very decomposed condition. A fortnight previous another dead carcase was found lying on the hillside which drains into the waterrace, and was reported to a council ficialv "Mr. Hally's remarks are practically an- appeal to the mining companies to resume operations, in order to allow the streets to be flushed with mine water. Benevolent company! He says that the death of tho child from diphtheria was clearly due to the stoppage of mine waters. Surely the pollution of the water supply of Waihi is a much greater factor in causing epidemics than the cessation of mining operations? The council 13 not in a position to provide adequate protection to the water race, according to the town clerk, yet sufficient funds were at its disposal to buy coal that the mining companies had no use for, and also to provide tourist trips for some of its members to Wellington, on a mission that was as futile and as unnecessary as Mr. Rally's statements are biassed and without foundation. "Issued by Strike 'Committee, "W. McLENNAN, Chairman. "Waihi, August 10, 1912.", This proved too severe a pill for Councillor Potter, one of the "tourist party," and he plunged into print next day with all the energy of a despairing patriot. HE knew the trip had been successful. It was going to ppov© of great benefit to the community—he knew it would! The audacity of those strike-leaders 1 even hinting thelt the mission was a fruitless one! Really, Mr. Editor, you know it is not a matter to be laughed at. Fancy a city supervisor being spoken of disrespectfully by those revolutionary strikeleaders ! The New "Worker." The new method of printing Tip Worker was greatly admired here, one and all speaking in appreciative terms of the improvement. The true value of possessing a paper of our own has become apparent to all workers who think with a twentieth century mind. Great

Official Report from the Scene of Action.

as is the circulation of The Woriusb, considering its youthiulness, muchquoted and read as it is, in the days to come it will play a more important part than oven to-day. We cannot disguise the fact that strenuous times aro ahead of the! New Zealand worker; dangers aro ahead undreamt of by many; one can almost hear the giant doors of the prisons creaking behind toil-scarred unionists, who fought for liberty. 'Tia then we will want our fighting papers behind vs —papers that will not only be a power, but which will also prove an intcllectuajMlercules, spreading the Gospel of Working-class Knowledge. Parry's Ruling. At last week's mass meeting the most interesting business was the notice of motion tabled by Mr. M. B. B-udd, who said he was quite convinced that his motion was not clearly understood by many members. He did not- want- to go io arbitration, but he considered we wanted outside public support. If his notice of motion was carried it would prove conclusively that a secret ballot should have be,en taken prior to the strike being declared; on the other hand, if his motion was lost, it would show wo were solid and' did not want a secret ballot. The strike was not so much against the Arbitration Court as against the engine-driv-ers. He wanted to have the Federation draw up an agreement covering enginedrivers, and if the mine-owners agreed to it all drivers to become subject to the Federation or else pack up their swags and get out.

The President ruled the motion out of order on the grounds that the Union had a resolution on the books to the effect that we have severed our connection with the A. and C. Act, and notice must be given to rescind that resolution before the present motion could be discussed.

In a few vigorous remarks, the Pre-1 sident warmly condemned these resolutions being tabled, especially as their j authors knew there was no possible chance of them being carried. Such resolutions were an insult to every person who was contributing to the strike and retarded a settlement in favor of the strikers. The President's remarks were warmly appreciated, and his ruling was the signal for vociferous cheering from most present. Federation Officers. Messrs. Webb, Parry, Semple and Glover were nominated again for the official positions they hold in connection with the Federation by an overwhelming majority, the other candidates only receiving a mere handful of votes. The miners were quite prepared to leave the future carrying out of the industrial trouble to these officers who had so favorably carried out the work for the past 12 months. They SayThat a lot of education is required before the workers of New Zealand are sufficiently organised either industrially or politically to inaugurate the Industrial Democracy. That a Big Gun of Waihi is in favor of shooting irons being used in preferonce to a strike because while somebody was receiving a lead pill he would still be receiving his unearned increment. Thais W. E. Parry got a hot one on to Hally when he said that "Hally apparently objected to the strikers playing quoits, and he wondered if he would sooner see them at target practice." That a militant worker said "there are no snakes in New Zealand, but plenty of worms." That another visit from E. J. Howard would bo very much appreciated by the militants. \