the Maoriland Worker FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1912. Waihi

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 91, 13 December 1912, Page 4

the Maoriland Worker FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1912. Waihi

Although the strike has officially been declared "off," some complications which have since arisen are not making towards ending the strike.

Judging by press reports, Mr. Rhodes (director of Waihi Company) has "backed down" upon tho understanding that the strikers could remain members of their own union if they went to work, while Mr. Kudd (president "of the arbitration or scab union) has declared that "they had tho assurance of the Waihi Company that only members of an arbitration union would get employment in the mines, and in the face of that tho Fodderationists tvollld not find Waihi an attractive place in which to remain."

Wo understand that the matter is being reconsidered by the executive of the Federation of Labor, and therefore it will be wise to wait further developments ere concluding that things arc settled.

In any case—settlement or continuance —funds will bo required for some time yet; and it- is decidedly pleasing to noto that the unions aro paying the 5 per cent, levy with splendid loyalty and determination.

Strike pay to the strikers, plus the piled-up expenses appertaining to the conveying of families from Waihi and back and plus also tho heavy legal and other costs of police proceedings and the inquest, have mado an exceptional drftin upon tho funds. Tt is ohviously incumbent upon the affiliated unions to meet the drain, and we confidently leave tbo matter in. their magnificent hands. To refer to Mr. Wallnutt's Mtcr. we gladly give space to it. and can assure Mr. Wallnutfc that we aro prepared to givo fair play all round and that our columns are freely open tr> him in order that he may put himself risiht with otir readers. We inland dealing with his reply in a future issue and if we find that we have unjustly accused Mr. Wallnutt we shall quite handsomely express our apologies to him. Nothing could be more fairly or squarely offered.

Now that the Australian papers hearing on the Waihi riots are reaching Us it is most satisfactory to find that the capitalistic papers aro much like those of New Zealand in their accounts and deductions, while the Labor papers with unerring working-clare iiiswi.it uphold the strikers and bring to bear their knowledge of experiences of wagewars in Australia to correctly prot Waihi.

Sydney " Worker,-' Queensland "Worker," Westralian "Worker," "Labor Call" (Victoria), "Barrier Daily Truth" (Broken Hill) have commented upon tho Waihi "affair" soundly and correctly, while- tho Socialist papers have been burning in their vindication of the strikers and in their indignant denunciation of scabbery. From most of these papers we have quoted or will quote. One feature of recent events that must havo stirred all union hearts was the timoly messages from lite slalwart miners of Broken Hill. On tho very day of tho rtriko being declared "off" ibo cables flashed the news that the well-boloved and renowned Amalgamated Miners' Association (tho fighting A.M.A.) of Broken Hill intended to continue its levy in behiilf of the Waihi strike; while last week another cable conveyed a defiant and clear-cut condemnation of tho "I linkers'" exhibited nt Waihi during lilack Week and of tho Governmental connivance with tho same detestable and damnable outrage. We take off our hrit.s to tho militant miners across thosea —of Broken Hill in this connection especially, but also of the fine underground heroes of West Australia, Newcastle and other centres for their fraternal aid. We

shall have occasion to speak further of Australia's help to Wai hi and Keefton. H) nns not general, but it was grand in its spots.

As regards Broken Hill's memorable moral and financial backing, too much praise cannot be given to "Barrier Daily Truth" and its editor (Mr. Robert Hogg) for the brilliant and rousing presentations of the New Zealand position. Of which anon.

To conclude these rambling remarks, we must also bear testimony to the inspiring support accorded by the little but able and plucky organ of the growing United Laborers' Union of Australia, viz., the "Organiser," which militant voice of the new unionism—lndustrial Socialism —thus terminates an impressive editorial: —

"Men of the U.L.U., remember Waihi! If we are not careful there are forces at work in Australia that will land us in (he same place as the Waihi miners are landed to-day. So long as the forces of Labor are divided into warring factions chasing arbitration, <*[<•., so long will the working-class be fit the rnorry of the employing-class. The fight of the Waihi men will live as one of the grandest contests for Industrial liberty in Working-class history. AVlioio the Fpderation of Labor stands to-day, the rrliolo of the New Zealand working-class will stand in. the future. Mr.y the Federation of Labor grow and its power and influence become greater as tljo years go by, and, as a watchword for tho future, we would suggest : 'Remember Waihi I' "