THE TROUBLE AT WAIHI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 32, 1 October 1912, Page 5

THE TROUBLE AT WAIHI.

NEW UNION’S MAN I [GUSTO

(Per Press Association.) Waihi, September 30. The following manifesto has boon issued by the new union:—“We, as members of the recently-formed Ohmcmuri Mines and Batteries Employees Union, desire to make clear onr reasons for forming an industihl union under the arbitration laws cf Now Zealand. Wo belong to that section which were not satisfied with the ballot taken by the Waihi Union upon cue question of the cancellation of its registration under the Arbitration Act. The deadlock which has since occurred, and which has lasted for nearly five months, can only' be terminated by the action we have' taken. We decline to j,e a charge upon the generosity i f our fellow-workers when there is profitable employment awaiting us and a judicial tribunal in the case of dispute is offered to us. We bear no animosity towards those who think that wo are wrong in taking this, the onlv line ol action possible, to bring about re-em-ployment. We ask that those who are willing to return to their work shall recognise that all sections have > rights and liberties. Wo invito you to join ns in sharing the management of union '’ffairs. leaving a final settlement of disputes to the law ot the land in winch wo live.” GENERAL MATTERS. Waihi, September 30. Strike matters are quiet here today. The strikers are arranging for an elaborate system of picketing on the Waihi Mine' Hill for Wednesday morning. The Waihi Gold-mining C ompany have publicly notified that'all persons trespassing upon or loitering about land occupied by the company for its mining purposes, will he prosecuted. A small cottage for the accommodation cf guards who are to protect the Waihi Companies’ bridge on the Ohinemnri River Inis been erected.

Quite an influx of ox-residents of Waihi has sot in. The influx is coincident with the resumption of work at the mine. It is anticipated that about sixty men will respond to the Waihi Company’s warning to resume work on Wednesday, with the alternative of the cancellation of contracts.

A new portion of the W"ihi Compony’s Waikino lino alterations, which have just keen completed, has been tested. An engine with a number of loaded trucks was slowly taken over it this morning. The carriage of quartz from the Wnihi mine to Waikino can now be resumed at any time. The grading ami other alterations necessitated by the passing of the blast Coast line over the companies’ lino has been in progress for several weeks. THE FEDERATION OF* LABOUR. “TO COME OUT AT ALL COSTS.” Wellington, September 80. The emergency meetings of the I'edoration of Labour Executive■ to consider plans 'for the futiTbh'COmluct of the Waini strike ended to-day, when a representative of the “News” huerviowed a number of tii© members, 'they were not prepared tor ■communicate ihlich : except|c|)inions, tjiq|a|:tvial resolutions regarding their plans being, they said, aal-l-blfJfor this'present. Amend who is conducting the fight at Waihi in the absence of Mr. Carry, included among the so-called martyrs at Mount ’Eden Gaol, the cxeciuiyo stated that Mr. Fraser, of the Auckland Waterside "Workers’ Union, had been deputed to proceed to Waiiii to take charge of-operations. What will bo done by him. is apparently. .to await developments-’oh ‘the employers’ side. .The executive qffected to he .quite confident that tlf attemiJt ra* start the mine on Wedne'scLly would mo almost a fiasco, owing to incompetent woikmou. As for the strik ( erk,' thoy declan d fcnat the dispute is thinning on a ( good financial basis, and that funds arc plentiful, with prospects equally good, as some sections of the Federation, such as the shearers, will be able to contribute towards the support of taeir idle colleagues more easily during the summer months. THE GAOL POLICY. “The Federation is determined that the men in gaol who have committed no crime have to come out at all costs,” declared Mr. Semple. “They could come out at once if they found sureties,” suggested the representative. “Well, they won’t,” promptly answered the Federation organiser. •‘Thousands of people would have provided sureties, and wo could do it cut of our funds if we liked, but we arc determined not to sign away our liberty at the dictation of a class-biassed Magistrate. Every miner in our Union —-every woman, and-every member of the executive, is prepared to follow' Mr. Parry to gaol rather than sign any bond. Wo are going to demand die right to peaceful picketing.” THE KAFFIR LABOUR ALLEGATIONS. Air. Semple declared that ho was still dubious, despite the denials of the employers, that Kaffir or Chinese labour would bo imported to run the Waihi mine. “Mr. Massey and‘Mr. Rhodes can deny it,” he said, “but I got the information from the ‘Dunedin Star,’ which is an employers’ paper. It mentioned about a week ago that a move was on foot in London to introduce coolie or Chinese labour into Waihi, and this, with the statement of Mr. Rhodes that Kaffirs and Chinamen can work the machine drill, makes it appear genuine.” MORE DEMONSTRATIONS. Mr. Semple and Mr. Armstrong, of the General Labourers’ Union, will leave for Groymouth to-morrow for the purpose or organising demonstrations in favour of the unconditi mal release of the 45 strikers now imprisoned at Mount Eden Gaol. Other members of the Federation executive will proceed to their own districts to organise similar meetings. Mr. Webb, who, v. iih Mr. Hickey, toured Australia to raise strike funds, will return to New Zealand on 'Wednesday. His colleague will remain in Australia unHl further eiders. The executive declared that '.he Australian response had been marve'lous, and was increasing.