Strike and Lock-out.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 82, 4 October 1912, Page 1

Strike and Lock-out.

News and Views.

Ted Hawkins, a popular Reefton identity, called at this office on Saturday and. mentioned having been at Waikino and witnessed police terrorism. Unionists are in jail, he declares, for doiug nothing other than lookiii.'f on as any man might look on a street occurrence anywhere. "Ted" asserts that the Waihi miners will never go to work until a square settlement is reached. "Tim" Armstrong recently held good meetings at Otira, Bealey Flat, Cass and Runanga. At each meeting police intimidation was strongly condemned. • * * Reported that an "arbitraticmist" union ha.s been formed at WaikiiAo aud registered- See how your beneficent and widely?advertised Acts are really but masks for J)own with them I • * * Pplice Cpmmissioner Cullen was overheard to say on the Auckland mail train that the miners at Waihi were the scum of the earth. A licensed liar. • *• * Old men, duped Maoris, and a few rotters, together with well-bought officials, constitute the Waikino rabble operating for the bosses. • • « D. G. Sullivan and Maguire, of Christchurch, are in the employ'of the weatheroockian Black to boost his rascally "Voice." Thus is betrayed militant and emancipatory Labor. Any alleged "Labor-leader" who has dealings with the enemy is "sußpeet." » • » Thus Balclutba "Press".— That the idea of a> sympathy strike

is not to be taken seriously

The bampaign (or Workingclass Triumph.

That id will b<? a false move, however, if the English capitalists who control Waihi mines seek to work them with Chinese or Indian coolies, as rumored. That the New Zealand workers would not stand that. * * * The following items appeared in the "Otago Daily Times" :— GREYMOUTH, Sept. 24. It is currently rumored that the State Miners' Union has decided to increase the levy on its members for the support! of the Waihi and Reef ton miners from JO to 25 per cent. The report as yet lacks confirmation. GREYMOUTH, Sept. 24. As a sequel to the recent "onenight" strike at West-port, occasioned by the non-employment of a man convicted of stealing, the railway authorities at Westport have issued a public warning that anyone pilfering coal will be prosecuted. This decision, it is added, will be most rigidly enforced. * * * j P. C. Webb was to reach Wellington on Thursda-y of this week. Welcome Lome! * X * The Industrial Workers' Union of Westralia has decided to levy 6d. per member weekly to assist in the support of the Waihi strikers. * » * "Special" to Wellington "Evening Post" :-!-"It is interesting to note that of the 45 strikers who went to jail rather than enter into a formal bond

I £10 to keep the peace, 24 are Australians and only 13 are New Zealanders. 'flit* rest of the party comprises two Englishmen, two Irishmen, one Canadian, one German; ou© Austrian, and on« Dane. The proportion works out fl .t 63.3 per cent, of Australians and *8.8 per cent, of New Zoalanders. Another point that strikes attentiuii in perusing the official index of the jailed strikers is that 19, or <J2.2 per cent., declare themselves having "uo religion." t* « ■ At Reefton on September L'ti the Consolidated Goldfields Conipan yapplied nt the Warden's Court for a further protection for four months. The Warden (Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt) was disinclined to grant protection, stating that the matter was in. the hands of the Arbitration Court, which next day ivould appoint an arbitrator at Wellington. Mr. Lawry, solicitor for the company, asked for the protection to bo made operative- at once. The Miners' 'Union had intimated that the men would not abide by tiny decision hostile to their interests, and the magistrate consequently referred the application to the Arbitration Court for the appointment of an arbitrator. The Warden refused to grant protection until he knew the result of the Arbitration Court's sitting, and accordingly adjourned 'the case till the result was known.

Referring to the statement that the tnrnes in Waihi would be working shortly, Mr. R. Semple gave it as his opinion to the press that none of the miners in Waihi would work the mines, and he contended that it would be found impossible to secure miners in New Zealand to take their places. It would be found that the actions of the police had strengthened the miners' position instead of weakening it.

The Premier, in a communication to Mr. Irving (chairman of the Inangahua County Council) on the subject of the

Reefton dispute, states that the Government will await the result of arbitration, and in the event of failure will then consider the question of setting up a Commission to inquire into the dispute. •!■■ " \ • "GOG and fjOCs" is a daving article, bat lhjo striking to lose iv these days <>f fighting with backs to the wall. Let the- squeamish roar I * * * Last Friday the F.L. executive dispatched 'the following telegram to tho Waihi strikers: "Executive now in fulK and earnest* session endorses and admires your determination as against Governmental enmity. Our hearts throb in unison with conduct of imprisoned strikers. Your women, too, inspire us to fight as we shall fight to help you to make history and bring victory."

Amusing par from the "Inangahua Times": "We understand that an American mining expert is about to visit certain claims in this district in order to report on them to principals. A private letter received in town the other day says: 'Semple and the Federation have headed off the London investors, but in America, where strikes are very common things, they take much less notice of them.' " Semple and other Red Feds r shooing Capital off the premises would be a capital (pun unintentional) subject for a cartoon. Funny, ain't it?