WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 91, 3 September 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

' SYLVIA MINE STRIKE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Thames, Monday. Trouble has occurred at the New Sylvia Miifc, Tararu, Thames. To-day the men ceased work. It is stated the trouble has arisen ov;r the employment of a member of the newly-formed Waihi Mine Engine Drivers' Union. The man in question was employed in the tottery, no steam power being used. He saiil that he joined the Thames Miners' Union on Saturday night. The men to-day decided to cease work "not for a strike," as one explained, "but to have a holiday so that a certain matter could be discussed." At the present time there are no men employed in the mine, only the battery hands being iengaged. It "is not known definitely what attitude the afternoon shift will take up, but it is believed that they will act in the same manner as the morning shift. If this is so about forty men will have ceased work. Auckland, Monday. The directors of the Sylvia' Mine wired to the Miners' Union, Thames, as follows:—"Thames Miners' Union .being under the Arbitration Act, the directors hold the miners responsible for any strike because of the employment of a man belonging to another union. The directors cannot discriminate." The trouble in the Sylvia mine has assumed a more s>rious aspect, the miners having ceased work at the battery. The men intimated that they would follow suit in sympathy. No official details are to hand, but it is reported that the 7nanager said that if the battery hands left they would be replaced. The men then ceased work. The nian objected to joined the union, but the men now want 'him to produce his clearance from tjie other union. This it is understood, he declines to do, hokling that he has a 'right to belong to two unions Registered under the Arbitration Act. THE STRIKE SETTLED. Thames, Last Night. The difficulty at the Sylvia mine, Tararu, near the Thames, has been overcome. The Waihi engine-driver, to whose employment objection was raised, has joined the Thames Miners' Union, and will obtain his clearance from the Waihi Union. This has satisfied the men, who will resume work to-morrow morning as usual. FURNITURE WORKERS' DISPUTE. AN AGGRESSIVE UNION. Wellington, Last night. The Wellington Furniture Workers' Union waited on Mr Massey as- Minister of Labour to-day. Mr Moriarity, the principal speaker, spoko for over an hour in opposition to tho ruling of the Customs Department that it had no power to stop the use of pyridine in methylated spirits, i The union oibected to the use of pyridine, as it affected the eyes of the worker who used spirit in polishing furniture. The secretary of Customs, in a letter, stated that the union should insist that methylated spirit without pyridine should be supplied by employers for polishing. Mr. Moriarity considered that it was practically an incitement to strike by the Minister in charge of the department. Mr Massey said that Mr Fisher had probably never seen the letter. Mr Moriarty urged the Government to withdraw the regulation, as, if the use. of pyridine was not stopped, the Furniture Workers' Federation would have to take extreme steps. Mr Moriarity proceeded strongly to criticise the decisions of the President of the Arbitration Court, w"ho, he said, had gone back on previous judgments, and done, more for the Federation of Labor than all the rest of the workers in the country. Mr Moriarity declared that it was "up to tho.se in power to remove him from the bench." Mr Massey: You must not refer disrespectfully to judges of the Court. You murd not ask me as Prime Minister to remove this man. Mr Moriarity said that he left the Prime Minister to settle that in his own way. He also criticised the Labor Department. Mr Massey. in reply, said he thought that the deputation had a grievance in regard to methylated spirits, and be would sp.e whether it could be put right. He added that he would have preferred to deal with the matter if Mr Moriarity had not said what he did as a threat. Mr Moriaritv disclaimed makinn- any threat. " "