THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 277, 20 May 1912, Page 3

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

THE NEW UNION. WHY IT WAS FORMED. Waihi, May 16. A meeting of the new Engine-drivers' Union was held yesterday, when reasons were stated for the formation of the new union. The chief reason given was that the drivers and winders reserved the right of forming a union of their own craft. Drivers had had reliable information that it was likely that legislation would be asked for reducing the size of engines which are controlled by enginedrivers, to make 40-h.p. the limit which holders of first-class tickets could handle, and that any over that power must be controlled by engineers. If that were passed, many who held secon4*class grade would be out of work. The new union was out to protect its own interests in connection with the marine question or the Miners' Union.

The president said the majority of members of the new union were no party to the existing agreement between the Miners' Union and the companies. They had broken no agreement, and they strongly objected to the boycotting which .vas being introduced. An engine-driver had been compelled to join the Miners' Union under threat of boycott and a refusal to go down in the cage at his shaft. A member of the new union had also been boycotted at his lodginghouse, and compelled to have a table to himself. It was also alleged that certain tradesmen of the town were threatened with boycott if they supplied members of the new union. The president concluded by saying that members of the new union objected to Mr. Parry and Mr. Dowgray insisting upon their being medically examined every twelve months, when mem-! tiers of the Miners' Union objected to such examination themselves, and to the imposition of an annual fee. i In this connection it was stated in the presence of a press representative that, one. of the members of the new union employed at the Grand Junction powerhouse had been intimidated last evening by a Miners' Union official, who ordered him to draw the fires. He was also sub-1 jected to personal reflections.

_ The president, in reply to the allegation that the new union only consisted of a few men, said the roll number was over thirty, and that they had the promise of ten more next day. A large number of dressmakers are to be dismissed as the result of the elackness in trade caused by the strike.