The Waihi Strike.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 80, 20 September 1912, Page 7

The Waihi Strike.

Blaoklegs and the "Why." The light has been too severe. The mine-owners are lighting a hopeless tight, and they bitterly realise it. Their press menials hare written that "the strike is fizzling out," "the end is in view," and "the strikers have fought a futile fight." What does it all mean.? The miners are as united and firm as the rock of Gibraltar, the strike levy is being paid by thousands. of stouthearted comrades in New Zealand and Australia, the summer is approaching and —ah, the mine-oWners know what is approaching. More than, one indication is available that those in the lead are being pushed, that somebody who wants dividends and yet more dividends is beginning to ask "What for?" The mine-owners, through theic press, are practically admitting that they have played a losing game, that they reckoned on a disunity that has turned to solidarity They say that "work may be resumed" —by scabs, but "no Federationists need apply." They parade the fact that adequate police protection is available in Waihi. that the Uuecoats of God's Own Country are prepared, in the name of law and order; to. protect the property of legalised robbers. Because the mine-owners have got n few human abortions ta> sell their bodies to a gang of industrial pirates, they wish the public to believe that they can get miners to work the mines. The mining companies know, as well as the strikers know, thnt.it is impossible to get miners as easily as they can get ordinary laboring slaves. , The human specimens of working-class depravity that the companies have employed at its Waikino mill are not likely to assi.it the company in breaking much ore in the mines. . " The working-man who scabs on lvs mates generally has about as much laboring ability as he has respect for his own slave class, and would be rejected as an tinfit dividend-maker in t<m<?9 of industrial peace. The history of scabs in every country is the same: as soon as they have played their infamous part the employers invariably cast their worms aside. Waihi will prove no exception to the rule. Cranny "'Herald." The tactics of the robbers' pres3 are too well known to be continually ■•.?- peated, but for downright inconsistency the following would give, one a headache to beat. A few weeks ago the "Herald" was crying out in piteous wails about "the poverty in Waihi," reciting school children's gossip about poverty, etc., and in Saturday's issue we find them getting this slab of poison off their literary chests:—''Some pf the residents look upon it as significant that on a recent Saturday night a-theatrical combination played to a packed house nt the Academy of Music in Waihi. The front seats, for each of which a charge of 3s. was made, were full, and the estimated total takings were upwards of £.50. Thai) sum wculd represent thi.« weekly levy from a good-sized union." Finding thnt their past tactics have not convinced those providing the sin-

Official Report from the Scene of Action,

ews of war of the futility ot the si'rike, they resort to the foul and malicious falsehood that the strikers are spending the hard-earned money that ;is contributed per levies in pleasure and riotous living, la there no depth to the depravity and degradation of the capitalistic press and their hired ink-sling-ing thugs? Business Men and "Protection." The business people of WaiJii are very indignant re the statements made in the ■'ileiald" and also by the police, that the business section ot' Waihi asked for additional police protection. When approached recently, the inajunty of them vigorously denied having anything to do with the matter at all. and only i.;ne high-collared individual was fouiid who believed that more police were wanted. It is freely circulated that a clerical hater of the working-class endeavored to persuade several shop iolk to urge the (liverninent u> send move police, but he did not succeed too well. One prominent citizen, who is a J. P., expressed the opinion that police concentration in Waihi was a very foolish proceeding. "There was absolutely no occasion for it at all," he said. "1 go out 'tnd leave my shop empty at any time of the day, and nothing is ever missing." ' "DM you ever expect to lose anything when the strike was declared." he was asked. "No; decidedly not," was the answer. There has been too much teaching of the class struggle in Waihi for the miners not to know why the police are here, and in whose interests they come. " Picked for War,' , . The presence of police in Waihi is taken as a huge joke by most of the strikers as far as it relates to law and order. No doubt outsiders are under the impression that Waihi, with its armed police, armed scabs and armed aud motor-carred mine officials, is something like a Wild West show. The polce patrol about in twos and threes, and the majority of them appear to he unconcerned about affairs. It is noteworthy, however, that they were evidently picked for war, judging by their size. It is estimated that nearly 50 policemen are in Waihi alone at present. Stray Strike Shots. It is freely rumored in Karangahake that in the event of the Massey or any other government prosecuting the miners over refusing to work with scabs that the miners are going to jail in a body. The Thames Miners' Union officials congratulated the men who refused to side with their mates, and remained at work with a scab from Waihi in the New Sylvia mine. What a contrast to the Karangahake men, who awaited not for official approval. The Thames Executive has the makings of a Labor Party, so hurry, Walter Thomas. Listen, ye opponents of the strikers' boycott. "The Federationists are quite unlikely to ever again obtain employment from the mining companies."— Auckland "Herald." Shriek, ye vul tures of Labor, shriek I