Strike Declared "Off"

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 90, 6 December 1912, Page 4

Strike Declared "Off"

Saturday, Novernbei* aoth

Executive Statement

At Auckland on Saturday last the Waihi strike was declared off.

FEDERATION STATEMENT.

Officials of the Federation of Labour' were interviewed on Saturday last by a, "Star" reporter regarding the" settlement of the Waihi strike*. Messrs. ft. Semple (organiser), P. 0. Webb (president), W. E. Parry (vicepresident), and P. Fraser (member of the executive) made the following joint statement: — "Although we have declared the strike off, we have no apiologies to make for its existence. It was absolutely justified, and no self-respecting unionist could have acted otherwise. It is now clearly known by all New Zealand workers that the fight was not one between two sections of workers, but was for the sacred principle of democracy rule in the industrial movement. This fact is clearly demonstratfid by recent developments at Huntly, where lose than 200 men nave, against the wish of 400, entered into an agreement which is intended to bo binding on the whole of the democracy. Surely this is plain to the working class: That the Waihi fight was more than justified, and that the very heart of unionism is endangered in this country by this insidious and monsfcrotis' method. "The employing class niay be optimistic- over the result of the Waihi struggle. Wβ want to say that this is not a defeat for the working class of New Zealand from an educative point of view; it is a great victory. The treatment meted out to the Waihi miners, and the unreasonable' tactics of the Government in coming t« the rescue" of mine-ownere hai done trfore , to bring the working class together than all toe educational work that wo could have carried on for years to com©. Mr. Massey" has, in fact, acted as a very effective organiser. There have been more rebels made during the" feW month*' of the Wa'itii strike than there ha;ve been for yeafe previously in New" Zealand. It 'has' slibwtt tK<* wofking - class conclusively what they are up against.

"It may be said that the Federation of Labour is dead, but it is impossible to kill an organisation in the twentieth century with a policeman's baton, or by any form of administrative tyranny*. EveY's act of tr&Bche'r.v committed fans the flamed 6f re'bellibii in the working class. Every mart and woman' of Waihi is more determined to-day to fight against oppression than on the day when work was stopped. The decision of the executive after the streiitious battle was accepted With a wonderful response. The men rec6griiseid tfcat at great battle had , be*n" that they ne&l not be , ashamed of, but could rather be proud of. This fight has left a mark on the history of trades unionism in NeW Zealand. These people, in spite of the tremendous odds against them, would have cheerfully continued to" fi£ht if the , Executive had asked them to do so.

"As regards" the organisation elfljswbfere, the finarieial support alone reacted over £80,000, and this would have been continued had we thought any good purpose could.be served by continuing the fight. Wβ are in a position to eliminate any suggestion of Hardship or suffering usually inseparable from industrial conflicts. Strike pay Usually ceased when a strike ie declared off, but we will eee_ that every family ie supported until the natural breadwinner is in a position to take the responsibility off our hands. We are not at all disheartened; we have fought against tremendous odds a battle of which we oan feel proud. We have fought a clean fight, but our opponents have used all the forces' &t their , coaitnand against us. Wβ are quite satisfied that the fight has strengthened our organisation. We have decided to call a conference of trades unions together in Wellington Shortly, in order to solidify the forces of Labour in New Zealand, tx> that ifc can more, successfully combat the forces against us. There are , thousands ready to join us, and we will' give them the chance. It will be seen in due time that the Federation of Labour is not dead), but is just beginning to live. One defeat against such odds will not wreck the federation. The working-class movement has been built up on defeats. The' WaiKi strike' is an incident, not aii epoch." RHODES' VIEW. Mr. Rhodes, of the Waihi Company, when eeen last Saturday , morning, said he had been officially iriform'ed that the strike was off. A list of ftbo'ut four hundred wofkenfc willing to return to Waihi had been handed to the company. It would certainly be impossible to find work for all, or even half, during the remainder of this year, nor until the water in the low levels had been pumped out, but the company had made a promise to giv6 preference during the" next ten days to married men with homes in Waihi, being free to choose from the list of • thbs©" deemed to be the most suitable for the company's requirements,