THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 278, 21 May 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

THE HUNTLY MINERS. By Telegmph—Press Association. Auckland, Monday. The Huntly Engine-drivers', Winders', and Stokers' Union passed a resolution with special reference to the Waihi strike as follows:—We affirm the principle of industrial unionism against the obsolete craft unionism, and are of opinion that the Arbitration Court militates against industrial unionism. A meeting of miners decided to refer the question of supplying coal to Waihi to the executive of the Federation of Labor. Work proceeded at the Huntly mines this morning as usual. THE TALLY CLERKS. Waihi, Monday. In regard to the tally clerks ceasing patrol duty, it appears now that no demand by the strike committee was made officially, but individual strikers threatened certain clerks, styling them scabs, and in conference with the mine superintendent these clerks asked the company's protection, but the latter could not see its way to comply with this. KICK ASIDE THE LAW. Waihi, Monday. Mr. M. Savage, speaking at a demonstration, said that he had seen the Act and found that the action of the enginedrivers in forming a union was lawful, but law was made for man, and if man was dissatisfied with the law he was right in kicking it aside. A PREMATURE STRIKE. Wellington, Monday. The Minister of Labor, speaking to a Post reporter, said that the miners had struck at Waihi without waiting until the Department had decided whether it would register the new enginedrivers' union or not. The Department had received a protest against the registration of a second engine-drivers' union in Auckland district, as one already existed in Auckland, which did not include {firemen. The Department had telegraphed to the officials of the existing body, asking if it would include firemen in that union. The union was taking a ballot on the question, and meantime the Government could do nothing. It had not been approached by either of the contestants.

THE NEW UNION'S DEFENCE. Waihi, Monday. The new union (engine-drivers' and winders') issued this morning a statement giving the reasons why they formed the union. They state that they can no longer tolerate a union whose officials embrace every opportunity of insulting the Empire and its rulers, ridiculing traditional beliefs, scoffing at all religion, and bleating forth anti-mili-tarism, atheism, and revolutionary socialism in season and out. The statement concludes by saying that the union has a firm intention to hold to its present position till the crack of doom. As a result of the strike committee's interference with the tally clerks of the Waihi Company, who are acting as patrols, and their demand that they should knock off, Mr. H. P. Parry, superintendent, has advised the men to cease in order to save trouble. THE SPREAD OF THE STRIKE. Waihi, Monday. Mr. McLennan, vice-president of the Miners' Union, who is in charge in Mr. Parry's absence, visited Paeroa this morning, ordering the union members working for the Waihi-Paeroa Gold Extraction Company to knock off. Consequently portions of the works are being stopped. Mr. McLennan asked the manager to compel every employee to become a member of the Waihi Miners' Union, but the manager refused. Meanwhile the majority of the men remain members of the Thames Union and under the Arbitration Act. THE STRIKE EXTENDING. Auckland, Last Night. The operations of the Strike Committee of the Waihi Miners' Union have extended to Paeroa, and the WaihiPaeroa Gold Extraction Company's works have, in consequence, suspended work temporarily. Apparently, two officials of the Waihi Union presented an ultimatum to tTTe company which could not be complied with, and when the manager of the company's works at Paeroa refused the demand about 14 men "knocked off" work. The company, therefore, decided to suspend operations for a few days, so as to reorganise the new men that will be engaged.

THE ENGINE-DRIVERS' CASE. A STRONG INDICTMENT. Waihi, Last Night. The following are further reasons adduced by the new union for separating from the Waihi Miners'Workers'Union: That, prior to the cancellation of the registration of the Miners' Union under the Arbitration Act the engine-drivers considered it advisable to form a separate "union. At a conference with the Miners' Union officials, however, the latter made such promises that we felt justified in allowing the matter to lapse. Thus at the outset we desired separation. The ballots for cancellation of the Union's registration were conducted in a grossly lax manner. Several ballots took place, the final one extending over a fortnight, and the ballot box was actually taken round to several shops, instead of being left in the hall under supervision. To this we strongly objected. ;Since then the management of the Union's affairs has been similarly lax an, informal, to the material detriment of our concerns and interests. One instance of culpable neglect will suffice. In 1910 we were circularised by the En-gine-drivers' Union of New Zealand re suggested alteration to the Machinery Act, by which the status of the present first-class certificate, covering any stationary land engine, would have been reduced to that of controlling 40 h,p. only. We made an immediate appeal to the Union to enter a protest, but they merely referred the matter to the president, who promised to negotiate. We, had to be satisfied with the information that the Federation's solicitor had the matter in hand, and were finally compelled to take individual action on the eve of the last session of Parliament. Re the claims of the Union to obtaining an increase of wage, we were not beholden to the Union at all. The Waihi companies changed their haulage plants from small-geared engines to large first-motion engines, which demanded greater skill and efficiency. On representation being made to the companies by the drivers, independent of any Union or Federation, we were immediately granted an increase of pay. Similarly, and independent of both the Union and the Federation of Locomotive Drivers the pump-drivers and men working the Waikino gas producers obtained an increase. Now, as these increases were included in the last agreement, the Miners' Union claims all the credit. The Union sought for drivers of small engines an increase to lis, but on meeting with a refusal surrendered

the demand, Since thon these drivers, apart from and independent of the Union, with the exception of one man, who is still getting 10s, obtained their increase. The miners refused to submit themselves to medical examination, but, presumably to show their consistent unionism, Messrs. Parry and Dougray did not hesitate to endorse the recommendation by the Miners' Commissioner that winding engine-drivers should be submitted to an annual examination, entailing expense and inconvenience. We have not the slightest objection to medical examination, but if examined why not those in a similar position, such as tramway motormen, etc.? On three occasions in fifteen months that we have been under the jurisdiction of the Federation strikes have hung in the balance. As enginerfrivers must choose between conforming to the law and having their certificates dealt with our state of unrest has been well-nigh intolerable. In direct opposition to the agreement, the Union forced engine-drivers who were not on the roll before the agreement was drawn up, to join the .Union. The coercion was a threat of refusal to be lowered by nonmembers. This is;a fair sample of the brand of liberty practised by the Waihi Miliars' Union. AUTOCRATIC STRIKERS. Waihi, Last Night. Tn connection with the Waihi strike, which it is feared will spread to the gold-saving works at Paeroa, the secretary of the Thames Miners' Union, which is registered under the Arbitration Act, received the following telegram from the secretary of the Waihi Miners' Union: "Strike declared at Waihi, Paeroa Gold Extracting Works refrain from enrolling members in or from the locality. Advise your members of the Union to keep away." To this the local secretary replied: "Cannot understand your wire re strike at Paeroa, which is in our district and outside your jurisdiction." It is stated that there is growing unrest amongst the Karangahake branch of the Miners' Union, the members of which steadfastly believe in the adoption of constitutional methods to secure redress for their grievance?.