WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 322, 11 July 1912, Page 7

WORK AND WAGES.

THE WAIHI STIIIK£. POSITION NOT IMPROVED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Last Night. The attitude of the mining companies at Wailii towards the Federation of Labor, coupled with the recent developments between the Northern Steamship Company and the waterside workers and coal owners at Kaitangata, goes to show the determination on the part of the employers to stamp out the Labor Federation. This being so, there semis no prospect of an early solution to the mining dispute here,, as the men are still inclined to bolster up the moribund organisation, and will stand out until such a time as the strike funds are exhausted. It has been authoritatively ( elicited that there is no possibility of the lpcal mines being opened with men associated with the Federation of Labor. The possible damage by water in the mines does not enter into the question. The water is not likely to rise to No. 10 level in Waihi this side of Christmas, and when it does it has been authoritatively stated that precious little harm will be done, and it will take a year before it rises sufficiently to do any material'damage. When work is resumed it will take two days' pumping for every day the mine is idle, consequently only comparatively few could be employed for some time, and months must necessarily elapse before the mines could be fully manned. It is generally admitted that, the're is no place in the world where conditions of labor are 50 good .is in Wailii. The average earnings of contractors throughout the mines prior to the strike tfas fifteen shillings per day. and it is claimed that the earnings are higher in Waihi than in any part of _New Zealand. With regard to (current 'contracts at the time of the strike the contractors have forfeited the right to resume, the strike having given the companies a legal right to cancel all contracts. The men broke the contract 'agreement by absenting themselves from work.

THE SOCIALIST PARTY. C'hristehurch, Wednesday. Officials of the Socialist Party deny the statement—telegraphed from Feeding that the party repudiated the Federation of Labor and the Maoriland Worker.- The party was never connected with the federation except through the Maoriland Worker. It still supports that journal, and it supports the federation against the United Labor Party. ' • THE REEFTON STRIKE. Reefton, Last Night. An .application for tliolcancellation of the Consolidated group of mines made by the Miners' Union on the grounds of nori-jriaiming was withdrawn. The companies' application for protection for Progress, Energetic and Blackwrftei* rtiihes' rights commenced to-night, the! Warden. opening the.coutt for consideration of the cases. The Warden, witlrrfrtmsel. visitod the Energetic mine •to-day 'to view the popper or Wau<rh' machin«>at work. The greatest possible interest is being taken in the cs.se. Over forty fitnesses have besn sub-' poened, i'i