Well Done, Karangahake!

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 78, 6 September 1912, Page 1

Well Done, Karangahake!

Strike Before Scabbing. CLASS LOYALTY AT KARANCAHAKE. RISES SUPREME TO ARBITRATION COURT FETTERS. (From Our Special Correspondent.) The startling news that the Karangahake miners were out on strike sent the thermometers of tho little business folks down to zero on Monday evening of last week. Thoughts-of- tho end of the world arriving caused much uneasiness. Briefly stated, the facts are as follows: On Sunday, August 27, it was known to some of the men that an en-gine-driver from Vv'aihi, one of the branded band, had secured employment at Karangahake, but owing to not being able to find out what shift he was to go on, no action was decided upon. The 4 o'clock "shift, however, on Monday discovered that the smellful one was on their shift, but had got down the shaft before he was noticed by the majority of the men. They decided that they would not go down with the en-gine-driver, and the mine manager, who was present at the shaft mouth at the change of shifts for the first time in over 12 months, asked tho men if "they refused to work under the driver in dispute while he was winding dirtP"

To this question tinmen answered "Yes," whereupon tlu manager said he would send him shovelling mullock instead of driving the winch. The men then took a show of hands and unanimously decided not to" work in the mine if the scab remained, and then went home for the night.

The union committee, subsequently placed the matter before the mine superintendent. This official absolutely refused to dismiss the engine-driver, so the committee called a meeting for the following morning to discuss the question. The meeting was exceptionally well attended and was the best union meeting ever held in Karangahake. The secretary and president of the Thames Miners' Union (of which the Karangahake Union is a branch) were present at the meeting.

Prior to the meeting the chairman of the union interviewed the driver, and asked him to leave the district, as he was only causing trouble. The troublemaking one was inclined to be stubborn and did not take too kindly to the advice tendered, contending that he was

called all sorts of "vile names" in Waihi, and if he went back again, he would get them just the same, and it was just as well to go on with the game. He requested tho union chairman to go to the superintendent with him, and upon visiting that individual the driver was introduced as "the cause of tho trouble."

The superintendent!, with the affection so peculiar to the master-class towards their tools, absolutely refused to alter his decision of the previous evening, and further stated that he would not even request the undesirable to leave his job.

At the union meeting it was unanimously decided that "no scab drivers were to be allowed to work on tihe field," and a deputation was immediately sent to acquaint the mine officials of the union's decision.

The mine superintendent was by this time awake to the determination of the miners, and as tho undesirable had ina.'le himself scarce in the meantime, the superintendent agreed not to engage in tho future any men who were antagonistic to the union.

Upon the superintendent's answer being placed before the meeting, it was agreed to resume work at 4 o'clock, thus ending the Karangahake miners' protest against working with enemies of their class.

The attitude adopted by the Karangahako men is all the more worthy considering that they are boimd up to the Arbitration Court. It proves to the working-class enemies that when the necessity of united action is demanded no legalised laws of subjection or tyranny shall stop the workers from rendering assistance to their fellows. The Karangahake miners have shown that they recognise in no uncertain manner that the fight of any section of the working-class is their fight. This is as it should be. All workers await the attitude of the Government towards the miners of Karangahake.

The general opinion of the company's attitude was that they only expected the Federation supporters to refuse to work with the diseased driver, and that the arbitrationists would prove loyal to the company that gave them work, fed their little ones, clothed their wives, etc., etc.

At tho recent union elections the Federationists were beaten by the Arbitration Court supporters, who are called "Moderates," and this fact is in no small measure due to the company adopting such an antagonistic manner in the present skirmish. However, the necessity of assisting their class through thick and thin was manifested

by the miners in a sufficient manner to compel the mine-owners to pull down their flag of piracy on this occasion.

May tho same success attend the miners upon their future fights, which are as inevitablo under t*o present economic system as the sun sinking into the west at the close of day.