THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 7 June 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

| FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS. 11 icgraph—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. In regard to the proposed conference to consider the Waihi strike, Mr. Pryor, secretary of the Gold Mine Owners' Association, states that he wrote to the federation stating that the mine owners were prepared to meet the men's representatives, but unless a settlement of the differences between the two unions at Waihi could be arranged in the meantime the conference must necessarily prove abortive, since the mine owners were not prepared to interfere in a dispute between those unions. Mr. Semple promised, on behalf of the federation, that a reply would be sent by last evening, but Mr. Pryor has not yet received a reply.

COMPULSORY REGISTRATION. Wellington, Last Night. A deputation from the Federation of Labor waited on the Minister of Labor, the Hon. G. Laurenson, this afternoon, complaining of the decision to register the Waihi Engine Drivers' Union under thd Arbitration Act. They urged that it was unjust and undemocratic that a small body of men, compi"= ! iig part of a union tiiat had cancelled its registration, should ho able to form a new union and register thereby the whole body of workers in the industry under the Act against their will. This really amounted to compulsory registration, and if persevered in would lead to a great deal of industrial conflict. Mr. Laurens'in. 111 reply, said that the Crown law officers had advised that the registration of the Waihi Engine Drivers' Union could not he refused. It seemed to him, however, that the deputation had made out a very strong case in, deed, and he would bring the matter before the Cabinet with a view to supplying some remedy when Parliament met.