THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 308, 25 June 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

DISCUSSED BY LABOR MEMBER, j 1 By Telegraph —Press Association. > Auckland, Monday, i Mr. Robertson, Labor member for ) Otaki, in an interview in reference to J the Waihi strike and the position of the Federation of Labor relative thereto, I said the machinery of the Arbitration j Act for the settlement of disputes had ) proved in many ways unsatisfactory. ] It had done a good deal in raising the standard of living, but could not provide the means of raising an actual standard once laid down. The Federation of Labor, in adopting j the constitution of the Independent Workers of the World, howevpr. for- i veyed the impression tlml us leaders had set their minds against using any ! means except those of industrial revolt and its concomitants o{ strike, turmoil, , etc. Much could be saidi in justification of the objection of the Waihi Miners' Union to the existence of a separate union within the area in which it was the paramount organisation, but the object could be attained without resorting to a strike. As a matter of fact, the strike was entered upon without the consent of the federation executive. Had the matter first gone before that body he did not believe the strike would ever have taken place. The executive showed I weakness in not repudiating the precipitate action of the Waihi Union and thereby maintaining discipline within its ranks. Instead, it made the blunder of countenancing a strike involving the very existence of the federation. The result had been that nany affiliated unions had had their loyalty to the federation considerably strained, and the request for financing its existence might be the means of proving that their loyalty was reaching the breaking-point. The United Labor Party, while able to recognise the need for industrial organisation, believed that political action must go 'hand in hand with industrial activity, that, the greatest victories for workers in the immediate future would be won in the political field. Greymouth, Monday. Grey Valley miners refuse to make a £1 levy for the striking miners, but took up a voluntary subscription for the Reefton strikers. The money will be handed direct to the women and children. A number of the State Miners' Union refused to pay the levy struck by the federation a few weeks ago. It is understood that Mr. Semple 1 - ied to effect a compromise, with little sweess.

ANOTHER REFUSAL. I Wellington, Monday, j Last week the Seamen's Union declined to give financial assistance to the Federation of Labor in the cause of the men idle at Waihi and Reefton. The secretary of the union, Mr. W. Young, has now received an appeal fromi Mr. Fagan, secretary of the Reefton Miners' Union, asking for direct assistance for the men there. He adds: "Our fight should not be bracketed with the Waihi trouble. We are locked out for not complying with conditions foreign to our agreement. Human life is at stake with us, also the very existence of the union depends upon the result." Mr. Young, in reply, promises to bring the matter before the union, and expresses regret at the unwarranted action of the Federation of Labor in bracketing Reefton with Waihi to save its own face. TTIE RETORT COURTEOUS. Wellington, Last Night. The question of aiding the Waihi strikers came before the Wellington Operative Bakers' Union on Saturday iiight. It was decided not to forward any subscriptions, but, instead, the general secretary was instructed to cable £lO to the wives and children of the London dockers.