POSITION AT WAIHI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 84, 26 August 1912, Page 7

POSITION AT WAIHI.

THE POWER OF THE BOYCOTT. VIEWS FROM A VISITOR. The strikers of Waihi are absolutely dominated —aye, even cowed—by a handful of socialists. That is the impression that forcibly strikes a visitor to the quartzopolis of the north at present. Last week a representative of the Tarannki Daily News, accompanied by another New Plymouth resident, both of whom were familiar with the Waihi of I eight or ten years ago, paid a flying visit to that town to renew acquaintances, and, incidentally, to note the effect of the strike. The first featura noticeable is its PURELY LOCAL NATURE. At Karangahake, the first mining township reached after leaving Paeroa, work is proceeding as merrily as of yore, though it is but seven miles from the infested area. Waikino, however, shows unmistakeable signs of the strike demon. Here was situated the Waihi Company's main battery and extraction plant, covering acre 9 upon acres of ground. It was usually the scene of enormous buitle and activity, the din of the stampers p'\mng almost unbearable to the visitor, though the residents of the locality became so used to the noise that any sudden cessation at night would cause them to wake from their slumbers jutt as any sudden noise would awaken slumbererg m a quiet city. The whole seene here it one of

DESOLATION. The company's plant was very comprehensive, including in addition to the battery, a sawmill, foundry, fitting shop, blacksmiths' and carpenters' shops, etc. All are now silent, and have been for the past fifteen weeks. The township was prosperous and healthy, but it is now practically deserted, the stationmaster having had a very busy time during the past few weeks consigning away furniture, etc. Now, however, all who can leave have done so. A picture proprietor who was showing there regularly twice a week, and who was doing very well, has had to give up, losing the money whieh he had sunk—a considerable amount—in fitting up his plant.

Arrival at Waihi found one marvelling tit the vast improvements that man has made in the face of nature. The barren plain over which the coaches and waggons used ,to run, choosing their tracks at will, until in the summer it was covered in dust about a foot thick, that used to rise up to welcome the visitor in clouds, and in' the winter was a sea of mud, is now covered -with smiling residences, many of which are surrounded with gardens and shelter hedges, whilst the road entering the town is sheltered on each side by a lovely avenue of trees named after New Zealand's greatest Premier, "Seddon." Waihi is quiet; one listens in vain for the rumble of the stamps which used to sound like a very angry sea beating on a rocky shore. Reaching the main business centre, evidences of the town's progress are noted on every hand, and so are evidences of the

PRESENT DISASTROUS STRIKE, which for a time has Waihi in it» relentless grip. It is now over fifteen ■weeks since the strike started, and it will be over fifteen more before the strike ends, from present appearances. There will be a serious reckoning after the strike; business people are standing idly by now and dare not take an active part for fear of the boycott, but they are not in love with the Socialist element by any means, and it is the Socialist element that rules just now. Over five lundred and fifty men are out now, and it is certain that barely 10 per cent, of these have the control, and they exercise their power at the various meetings, etc. Should a man dare to propose a resolution that appears to be opposed to the Federation, he is howled down and called a scab. The men do not want the strike, but they are cowed—at least that is the impression that could be gleaned from conversation with various miners ion the subject. The miners are quiet and peaceful; the leaders are too cun- ; ning for anything else. Despite veiled threats, they fully realise that the first ! signs of violence would lead to the Government taking such drastic action as would put a ch«ck on them. The men on the day the writer visited Waihi, which was beautifully fine, were engaged in peaceful pursuits; some were sunning themselves, seated on the kerbing, .others were congregated in knots discussing the j situation perhaps, or possibly merely gossiping. It is, in fact, dangerous for any- ; one to discuss matters of moment, as ' some spy of the Fdeeration is sure to be near by. Others of the men were playing quoits on a vacant allotment near the Miners' Union Hall, whilst a few showed some consideration for their better halves by taking the children out for an airing. We met several burly miners industriously pushing the pram. The miners seem fairly contented with their lot. They are drawing strike pay and can live. Some, however, are

TIRING OF THE IDLENESS, and if there were only one good leader among them to counteract the influence of the Socialistic element the strike would lie over to-morrow. Occasionally, as one of the engine-drivers, who wished to form a separate union, passes, a cry of derision is raised and mocking word* are hurled after them, -but no notice is taken and they soon pass away. There is no poverty visible as far as one could see, and conversation with business people proves that there is very little. Most of those not receiving strike pay lave left the district. . Business has, of course, suffered much, and will suffer for some time after the strike is settled. Houses are. empty in all directions, but that everyone has not lost faith in the future of Waihi is evidenced by the number who are taking the opportunity of removing into more convenient and commodious premises as these become vacant. The drapers' shops, too, seemed to be well patronised by feminine shoppers. "No," said the proprietor of drapery emporium in response to a query; "no, I cannot say that I have felt the effects of the strike very much so far. You j see, my business has been all cash during ' the last three, years, and consequently when the strike did come on I did not ' have to worry over book debts, and neither did ,1 create offence by having to stop my customers' credit just when they thought they needed it most." "Most business people have and are feeling its effects, however, and several shops are empty as a result. From conversations with leading business men one can glean that • THE SOCIALIST IS NOW HAVING HIS DAY. The business man, as mentioned before, has to sing small, but when the strike is over ihere will be a cleaning up, and several of the red-hot agitators will t have to shake the dust of Waihi off their feet very hurriedly and wait not 011 the order of their going. We had I noticed that people whom we passed were favoring us with, great attention, and some even were looking decidedly hostile. "Why," said a prominent business man to my friend, "what arc you wearing that symbol for," pointing to the flaring red tie with which it was his , custom to adorn himself. "Surely you are not one of that mob." Further ex- ' planalion elicited the fact that red was the color of the Federation, and that I mything red was to the peaceable Waibeatlien what a red rag is to a bull, i Red would not be tolerated in Waihi.

It was odious and abhorrent. Thus can be seen the feeling that exists towards the Red Federation. There is strong enmity, but for expediency it is just botled up. When it does effervesce the leaders can look ont. Needless to say, a Wailii draper was soon 2s bettor off, and the .New Plymouth resident was wearing neck apparel of a more sombre hue. "Yes," remarked the man Dehind the counter in effecting the sale,- "red is not in favor just here." In fact, he added, the other day a lady came to the shop to buy some stockings for her boy, but lie refused to take them because tliey 'had n red band on the top! There is no doubt that fully 70 per cent, of the miners and 9!) per cent, of the whole of the residents are against the Socialists, and where the strike is over Socialism is doomed in Waihi. It is hard, however, to say when the strike will terminate. Some think it will easily last over Christmas. The miners are receiving strike pay for doing nothing, and they are content to continue. The companies know that, the gold cannot come to any harm ,by being left in the ground for an extra year or two, and so seem quite prepared* to sit tight and await the course of events. It is rumored that the Waihi Company is gathering together free labor, and intends manning the mine witli them. If this does happen, then trouble will ensue, as the miners will uot accept defeat in that way lying down. Indeed, already veiled threats have been given out, and miners have been heard to declare that they must keep in form for such an emergency. It seems a pity that the Government cannot step in and end such a strike. Of wliat use are our arbitration laws when such things can happen. Of course it is only the innocent who suffer. The miners have strike pay, but those working at the trades dependent on the usual activity of the place are of course heavy losers. Thrown out of work, they have had to sacrifice their few bits of furniture for next t'o nothing and' seek homes elsewhere. The miners are evidently bent on making the best of their saare time, as

PLENTY OF AMUSEMENTS are being held. A notice board outside the 'hall notifies that the annual meeting will be held on Saturday, a social on Wednesday, and a concert to-morrow. The picture show still draws. Before the strike there were two, but one was ■boycotted because it employed a pianiste who was a daughter of a non-Federa-tionist. To pacify the powers, the proprietor discharged her, but the publicity given by the press of New Zealand to the incident so galled the autocrats I that the boycott continued; Boycott and intimidation are powerful weapons in the hands of clever if unscrupulous leaders. The meetings are held in camera, but the proceedings faithfully leak out to the Press in a manner that has so far baffled the autocrats who pull the strings. "Don't you believe it," remarked a business man feelingly, "Waihi js not done yet. It has got a alight set-back, but once the strike is over and we have chased a few of these Socialists out of the town it will have a rapid return to prosperity. Money will rush in." There was plenty of capital ready for various undertakings, but this strike had been in the air for months;