Strike and Lock-out.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 80, 20 September 1912, Page 1

Strike and Lock-out.

News and Views.

THE FEDERATION OF LABOR. "Build mc straight, 0 worthy Master! Staunch and strong, a goodly vessel, 'That shall laugh at all disaster, And with wave and whirlwind wrestle I" —Longfellow. ■>: x * On Monday of last week Wellington "Dominion" thus headed its Waihi news: " FIZZLINC OUT. WAIHI STRIKE. STRONG POLICE FORCE. SUMMONSES ISS LTD.'' On Saturday, May L'o last, the same paper thus headed its Waihi news: — "STRIKE SAGGING. WAIHI POSITION. EARLY COLLAPSE LIKELY. "TACTICAL BLUNDER." FEDERATION'S QUANDARY." And on last Monday the heading of May reappears : " STRIKE SAGGING." Reliable press. On Tuesday of last week tlie same paper's big black heading was: — "THE BEGINNING OF THE END." Three months ago the world was told it was "The BEGINNING OF THE END." Query: How many beginnings has an end? Amazing study in ethics that this journalistic pot should censure the Press Association kettle! * * * No leader ot a popular movement, in however small a way, must ever look cr speak as if he were in the least discouraged.—Hyndman. * * ■ * The Reef ton Union was not represented at the Supreme Court atGreymouth when the Consolidated Goldfields, Ltd., appealed against the Magistrate's decision granting protection eondition-.il on their applying to the Arbitration Court. The Dunedin "Star" is authorised to say it is understood that arrangements have been entered into between the New Zealand coal mine «.ivners and the New Zealand Gold Mine-owners' Association for providing that the Waihi companies shall be .suppH.d with all the coal they require, no matter what action the Federation of Labor may take. ¥■ * # WAIHI, September 11. Owing to heavy rains, a slight subsidence in parts of the surface of the Martha hill is noticeable. An old Thames miner, writing to a friend in Auckland, says: "These goldfields are in a state of fermenr, through the actions of a crowd of irresponsible men who have lately found their way here. 1 wish they were . the whole lot of them, as their only object is to make as much mischief as they can," Poor old voice of laissez fairel * * A correspondent, from Otorohanga thus further gives the game away: "All the assisted farmers here have been inundated with begging letters to assist tiuo.se dirty hounds at Waihi." * Ir « Cable from W.A.: "Hickey at Collie ; splendid reception; sending £20; lew continued. —Whittaker."

The Campaign for Workingclass Triumph.

Secretary Glover is in receipt of a further £400 from Secretary Brennan of Newcastle. * *■ * Tim Armstrong tells us that about seven years ago the enginedrivers "pulled out" from the Waihi Workers' t'niou, and were bidden "good luck." After a year they sought readmission to the union. Tim describes the present runaways as "scab , ? pure and simple," and Tim knows Waihi. He is a man who makes every allowance for friction too, and doesn't jynip at conclusions. Tim says the straight Waihi men will never give in. * *• * At Broken Hill, after an address by Mr. P. C. Webb, president of the NewZealand Federation of Labor, v mass meeting of unionists passed a resolution congratulating the miners of Waihi and Reefton on their right for better conditions, and condemning the action of the Labor Council of N.S.W. in refusing to issue an appeal on behalf of these. Thus a Gisborne lady: The Federation of Labor is too strong and wise to let compromisers and palliative-chasers get hold of it. Its foundation has been built and strengthened by that,great master —hard experience. * * * Read carefully our article on "Federation (and Other) Finance," and get its figures at your ringers' ends. They are invaluable argumentative ammunition. * * * "The Rebel's" article of last week on Black made a big hit. Some day some poor fool will use Black's dynamite recipe, and then the Federation (and not Black) will be blamed—which is the devilish dodge. * * * Charles Cesare, an old friend and a firm militant, writes from Port Pirie (September I):—We have among us P. C. Webb. He has been here five days. 1 may say we of this Liverpool of South Australia have treated him the best way we could. He has always met with gre-at receptions. Last night (Saturday) we had an open-air meeting. The people here are in sympathy. We took up a collection, and we managed to get a few pounds, i suppose you have heard that the Adelaide T. and L. Council took the same stand as Sydney did. Comrade Webb has promised them a lively time when he gets in the City of Churches. Port Pirie unions have promised to assist our brothers across tihe sea, and also are hoping some day we will be linked up. Remember mc to H. E. Holland and al?o give my fraternal greetings to the N.Z.S.P." "Paddy" Webb, interviewed by the Labor daily of Adelaide, the "Herald,'' excellently and convincingly put the Waihi and Reefton position. * * it Spanwire: li is pleasing at this juncture to notice the splendid conduct and class-conscious -attitude of the women of Waihi. Surely if anything would rouse just a little- manliness into the apologies of hearts possessed by the crawlers working at Waikino the women would do it. Bravo! meu and women of Waihi. * # • * While at Broken Hill, Messrs. Webb (Waihi strike- delegate) v W. B. Driscoll and W. D. Barnett (president and secretary respectively of the A.M.A.), and Ker (secretary of the 8.L.F.) journeyed to Umberumberka for the purpose of placing the position of the New Zealand workers before the Umberumbei'ka men. Largely-attended meetings werO held at 3 o'clock and 5.30, the result in each case being a ratification cf the resolution carried at Sunday's mass meeting of unionists in the Trades Hall. * * « At the psychological moment, with almost every paper yelling "end of the strike," Sernple electrified newspaperdom with a declaration that the strike had "only just begun." The following is one of many messages transmitted last week-end: "Mr. R. Seinple, the organiser of the Federaflon of Labor, who has arrived in Chri.stchurch from the West Coast', informed a reporter last evening that the strike, so far from fizzling out, had 'only just begun. .

"Hβ said that men were still in a very powerful .position und beiuid them were all the powerful unions or' Australia, and never in the history of New Zealand had there been such a marvellous response to an appeal to unions. The meu had against them the United Labor Party, the majority of the combined press of the Dominion, including the <>rgau of the Government, and also the police force, with its intimidatory tactics. In spite of that opposition, the men were not at all pessimistic. The coal miners were specially determined. They would give 50 per cent, of their wages if necessary, or, if called upon, would stop the coal production. The men had surprised their enemies up to the present time; they would give them a still greater surprise before they had finished. It was a great mistake to send a force of police to Waihi. There had not been one case of even drunkenness amongst the men at Waihi or Reefton, and there was no necessity whatever for the authorities to take such a drastic course." # * * In regard to the statement telegraphed from Greymouth last week, saying that work was available in the Reefton mines, and that men need only apply to obtain it, Mr. Mark Fagan, secretary of the lnaiigahua Miners' Union, stated to a reporter that the trouble still continues in Reefton, and tihe attitude of the union has not altered —i.e., the men are quite agreeable to work under the award, which has yet a year to run. The attitude of the union arid the men towards tihe innovations attempted by the management is the same as it was 16 weeks ago. The men, Mr. Fagan says, are just as determined as ever. The abnormal has become the normal in Roefton. The only outcome of the four months' spell, Mr. Fagan continued, was that the men's health had greatly

improved during tho enforced holidays. As to the implied siiggestitri that free labor would be engaged for the mines, he was convinced that free labor would be unobtainable on the West Coast in 1912. * X « The appeal of tho consolidated companies against the conditions on whiiA the protection of their rights was granted was withdrawn, Mr. Justice Deimiston allowing the Lnaiigahua Miners' Union £10 10s. costs. * * * Press Association message on September 12: "The arbitrationist workers employed by the Waihi Company at its Waikino works have formed a union under the Arbitration Act. Application for registration went forward to-day. The number is about 50." Aroitrationists —phew! * # * E. J. Howard, who has returned to Christchureh from the West Coast, states that miners there, especially , at Granity, have been working short time because of the great quantities of coal stored there. Long lines of trucks, he says, may lie seen filled with coal. At Seddonville hundreds of tons of screened coal, admirably suited for household purposes, are being washed into the river. The miners believe that if this coal was released it would greatly relieve the 'position that has arisen on arcotit of iihe * * * An "Otago Times" telegram from Waihi on September 11 read: "The Huntly mine delivered coal to Waihi this morning." In Well. "Post" of September 13 it was stated that "Seventy-five tons of coal have been delivered at the Waihi Co.'s battery at Waikino, where free laborers are being assembled."