THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 282, 25 May 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

MARKING TIME. By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Friday. The town is still maintaining its peaceful aspect. The union is patiently awaiting news from the Wellington conference as to the course deemed advisable to follow. The sluicing out of the town's concrete channelling was done last night. Many odours have been in evidence lately, as the result of stagnant drainage from boarding-houses, etc. A mm meeting of miners will be held to-morrow. The Engine-drivers' Union intends to appeal to the Arbitration Court in case registration is refused. The contractors in connection with past work at the Junction mine will be paid to-day. WATERSIDE WORKERS' ATTITUDE. Auckland. Friday. The waterside workers suspended work for two hours this morning. It is understood that they discussed the Waihi strike, and decided to leave the themselves in the hands of their representatives at the conference of the Federation of Labor in the matter of cooperation in the Waihi strike. They made a levy of half-a-erown per week on members in support of the strikers. WAIHI RETURNS. Waihi, Friday. The Waihi Company crushed and treated 24,650 tons of ore for a return valued at £43,403. The period of operations for this was twenty-one days, ending the 17th inst. All work in the mine and batteries ceased on the Monday following the strike. The total output to date is £9,986,957, and the dividends paid to shareholders £4,383,843. THE WATERSIDE WORKERS. Auckland, Last Night. The secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union denies that the meeting held this morning considered the question of a levy or cessation of work owing to the Waihi strike. The union con- | sidered. a telegram from Mr. Canham, the union's representative at the Federation of Labor Conference in Wellington, and decided by a majority of 96 votes to instruct it's delegate to act in accordance with his judgment. 'Hie secretary says that' steps were taken to ' notify the shipping authorities of the meeting, and it was not the union's intention to delay shipping. The members of the union state that Mr. Canham's telegram was a.request for instructions as to how he should vote upon any proposal put before the conference to call a general strike of unions affiliated to the Federation. ONE COMPANY TO RESUME WORK. Auckland, Last Night. The Herald's Paeroa correspondent telegraphs that the Waihi-Paeroa Gold Extraction Company has made all arrangements to re-commence work at its mill at T»aeroa. New men are under engagement to take the place of those who left t!:- >vo"ks this week, and the company can {'.■:■'■■. start crushing again as soon as it is ready. It was considered all along by most people that the company's employees at Paeroa were working under the conditions governing the members of the Thames Miners' Union, seeing that the mines at Komata and Karangahake are working under an agreement with the Miners' Union at Thames. The position so far as the works at Paeroa are concerned has now been settled by the Extraction Company becoming a party to the agreement made, and which will, by consent, be made an award of the Arbitration Court. Pending the re-com-mencement of crushing operations, the employees of the Extraction Company who did not go out on strike are being kept engaged. Dredging operations are, still being carried on, and unless something unforeseen happens the mill should be working as usual next week. BOROUGH APPEALS TO THE GOVERNMENT. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Donaldson, chairman of the Waihi Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, waited on the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) this evening, and represented that it was anticipated that by the end of the current month the borough 'would require an overdraft of £367 in consequence of the strike. In view of that he asked for assistance to meet all special demands. In reply, the Minister pointed out that the borough of Waihi had received upwards of £16,000 during the last financial year from gold duty. There was no need for an application to be made to the Government at the present stage because of the strike, which had lasted only a few days. The Government had no intention of altering its financial policy to meet any temporary difficulties that might occur. Tf the strike continued for any length of time, and it was found impossible to rate the district sufficiently, the matter would then he considered in due course.