SECRETARY'S NOTE-BOOK.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 15 November 1912, Page 7

SECRETARY'S NOTE-BOOK.

By M. LARACY. Organiser McLeod Teports from Hawke's Bay that in most cases he is meeting with success and in very isolated cases does he meet the shirker. The Hawke's Bay wool kings have been drugging some of the natives that on November 20 a general strike will be called, and that shearers will be called upon to down tools. McLeod is, however, equal to the occasion, and is convincing the Maori and his white brother that the strike suggested is but a wild nightmare on the part of the magnates of Hawke's Bay and that we are in no wav advocating a strike.

Our comrades at Waihi and Reefton will be far better served if those of us who are in toil render financial assistance, and with this object in view lists are being circulated and all members of the Association are entreated to assist the strikers and the wives and children of those miners lying in Mt. Eden Jail. Workers will surely Temember the Massey Government and those of the defunct Liberal Party, who when the division was taken in Parliament voted to keep those miners imprisoned for doing nothing which can be termed a crime.

After a week out of harness, Jack Cooper pulled into gear once more on the 2nd inst., and is now in the Wairoa country, meeting with unqualified success.

Messrs. Townsouu - ancr Mcc are still battling in the Wairarapa, and reports from them are most satisfactory.

Jack Townsend met one cocky shearer who refuses to become a unionist, but like all of that ilk had no idea of putting up a case to prove that he was justified in refusing to take a ticket in an organisation which was out to improve the conditions of the toilers at every available opportunity.

The accommodation in Hawke's Bay district is receiving attention, and judging by reports not before time. In a number of cases there is the frame of a hut with no bunks and the workers on the floor, huddled together like swine. I saw this myself last season in the Waitotara country,but I am informed that those who cover that ground this year will have decent accommodation.

A number of shearers came across during the last fortnight and by the time this appears in print most of them will be in the collar.

A number of shed's are now in full swing, and by the end of the week very few of our boys will be in the big paddock, as there will be room for all.

It is pleasant to stand on the wharf and meet the Sydney boat to pick out the old faces. The first place most of the boys make for is the union office, and at times you can count 25 and 30 sitting down discussing Labor matters in a manner that cannot fail to impress one and make him hopeful of better things in the near future.

The stock of Trade Union combs and cutters is fast disappearing, but a big supply of shears is still on hand.

Ballot papers for delegates to conference and other offices are now printed, and members are urgently requested to record their votes.

Lists in aid of the Waihi strikers are circulated and exception is taken by some to the heading on the list. There is but one strike fund, and the wives and families of the imprisoned men are being supported from that fund.

A number of cases of breaches of award are pending, the most interesting of which will be one in which the employer sacked shearers for refusing to shear wet sheep, though they had complied with the provisions of the award by reporting to the boss of the board before leaving the shed.

Members should immediately report bad accommodation, etc.; also breaches, as it is much better for the inspector to call at a shed while shearing operations are in progress.

I again desire to call the attention of members to the fact that all correspondence should be addressed to the office in Wellington.

All shearers' tickets, etc., are sent out direct from the office, and by mak-

ing application direct much time and trouble will he saved. Shed representatives are requested to report start and procure tickets, ballot papers, etc., without delay. It is also advisable to call for a show of tickets, as a few ticket-dodgers are still to be found. AGENTS. Taihape: Ellis Robinson. Otautau (Southland): M. Gonley. Ashburton: C. R. Johnston. Fairlie: Dave Cuthill. Temuka: Jas. Dunn. Pleasant Point: Mark Saunders. Dunedin: E. W. Gawne. Cust: J. McLaughlin. Kaiapci: Jno. Davey. Palmerston South: A. McGregor. Christchurch: Fred Ellis, Trades Hall Palmerston North: G. Stove, Britannia Buildings. Queenstown: Jas. Kelly.