THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 297, 12 June 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

THE ENGINE DRIVERS' UNION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Tuesday. Captain H. P. Barry, superintendent of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, interviewed with regard to statements about the formation of the Waihi Engine Drivers' Union by Mr. Howard, president of the Canterbury General Laborers' Union, gave an emphatic denial to Mr. Howard's assertion that the "new union had been formed by the employers." Captain Barry, proceeding, said: "I had no knowledge of who was getting Tip the new union, and did not know a union was being formed, except from what was said in the newspapers." As to the superintendent or someone in authority arranging a meeting at which the new union was formed. Captain Barry, said: "I never heard of a single meeting being held, or who held it, and had no communication with anyone on the subject, either verbally or in writing." With regard to Mr. Howard's assertion that matters connected with the early stages of the formation of the newunion came from the superintendent's office, Captain Barry said: "This is an absolute fabrication, and there is not a word of truth in it."

MR, HOWARD'S ALLEGATIONS.

Waihi, Last Night. Further proof of the inaccuracy of the allegations made by Mr. Howard, president of the General Laborers' Union of Canterbury, are furnished by the Waihi Engine Drivers' Union executive. Mr. that the majority of the drivers on. the field were not members of tfirW union, nor sympathetic with it, dnd that the employers were responsible for its formation. Detailed figures show : that the total number of engine drivers employed is seventy-one," of whom eight are members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, already under the Arbitration Act. The new union's membership totals forty-two, thus leaving only twenty-one drivers who are not under the Arbitration Act. Of these some have adopted a neutral attitude towards the dispute. To the allegations that the employers were in any way responsible for the new union the executive gives an emphatic denial, and challenges Mr. Howard to disprove its figures and statements.