STRIKE AT WAIHI

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 275, 17 May 1912, Page 5

STRIKE AT WAIHI

THE BOROUGH'S TROUBLES. By Telegraph—Pr«w Association. Waihi, Thursday. A menace to the health of the town is threatened by the stoppage of pumping operations in the congested part of the town drained by the service, concrete channelling, washhouses, kitchens, and urinals being drained into the channels and the matter taken into the Ohinemuri river. The channels have been kept clean by diverting water from the mine into them. The same amount of water from the borough service would reduce the town supply to a dangerous limit. The borough is doing its best to keep the channels sluiced out, but if the strike continues for a length of time an epidemic may result. It is estimated that the money in circulation in Wailii is affected to the extent of £6OOO per week. The shift bosses and tally clerks are patrolling the mines night and day. Affairs at the neighboring mining districts of Thames and Karangahake are reported quiet. The miners in both places belong to the Thames Miners' Union. It is stated that a section of the Karangahake miners are showing a feeling of unrest in sympathy with the Waihi miners, but so far there are no serious indications of trouble. In reference to the stoppage of coal going to the firand Junction mine, the Borough Council would have taken it to the gasworks, being 'led to believe that no objection would be offered to its cartage. The union, however, objected during the cartage, and the bulk of the coal had to remain. Efforts were then made by the Mayor to have the coal taken to the hospital, but the union keld it up.

STRIKE PAY BEGINNING. Waihi, Thursday. Everything is quiet. The union held a roll-call this morning, and those answering their names will he given strike pay. A large number of contracts have lapsed, owing to the fortyeight hours' non-manning limit having expired. The contractors will he heavy losers. The officials ai the Grand Junction have been working cleaning up the remaining slimes, hut no wages men are employed. The Minister of Public Works is endeavoring to secure work on the East Coast railway for the borough council's married 'r-ployees, until the council's revenue starts to come in again. A Miners' Union cherpie for ,1 small amount was presented at the National Rink this morning, hut wis returned to the drawers. It is reported that business places are shortening their hands. Free picture shows and socials for theunionists and their wives continue.

EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE. Auckland, Last Night. A step which may have an important hearing upon the situation has been created by the Waihi strike. It is understood to have been taken by the Waikato Miners' Union. It is stated that the Taupiri Coal Mining Company, from whom all supplies are drawn by the mining companies and dealers in the goldfields township, yesterday received a notification from the union to the effect that it objected to the company sending any more coal to Waihi for any purpose whilst the strike remains unsettled. The daily output from the Taupiri Company's mines is from 1350 to 1400 tons. The average quantity sent by rail to the Waihi mines is 200 tons daily, and to general consumers about 15 or 20 tons daily. As the mining compaies have now suspended their orders and are taking no coal, a sum totalling between £SO and £6O per day is being lost by the Railway Department in the shape of freight payments.