MINE STRIKES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 112, 27 September 1912, Page 5

MINE STRIKES.

ARBITRATION VERSUS STRIKES.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Last Night. A deputation consisting of delegates of the new Union to be registered under the Arbitration Act waited upon representatives of the Waihi, Waihi Grand Junction, and Waihi Extended Gold Mining Companies, this afternoon, and received a definite assurance that the present rate of wage will not be altered pending the drawing up of a formal agreement, registered under the Arbitration Act. They received a courteous hearing, and several matters were discussed, bearing upon the position of the new Union as the recognised voice of the manual workers in the industry. Members of the deputation keenly resented the assertion of the Federationists that the Union was a Company'** Union, assorting that the new Union was formed solely on their own initiative. The now Union is about one hundred strong, and il, is'-understood that the number will be largely augmented by the end of the month.

Mr. Walsh. Secretary of the Auckland Council of United Labour, addressed the new Union at Waikino on Wi daesday on the benefits of Arbitration methods of settling disputes. Mr Walsh, interviewed, said that the registration of this Union marked the turning point in the history of the labour movement in New Zealand, and indicated that the workers of New Zealand had found that the strike, method was not a satisfactory way of bettering workers' conditions. Strikes were only weapons of the I.W.W. and the action of the Waihi men in repudiating their tactics was the forerunnes of the ultimate disappearance of the Independent .Workers f ,f the World as ait active factor in New Zealand industrial matters.

THE REEFTON TROUBLE. Reefton, Last Night. The Consolidated Goldfields Company applied to the Warden's Court for further protection of four months. Warden Hewitt was disinclined to grant protection, stating that the matter lay in the aands of the Arbitration Court, who tomorrow, would appoint an arbitrator at Wellington. Mr. Lawry, solicitor to the Company, asked for protection, operative at once, as the Company, considering the Miners' Union had intimated that the would not abide by any decision hostile to their interests, consequently withdrew their application to the Arbitration Court for the appointment of an arbitrator. The Warden refused to grant protection, until lie knew the result of the Arbitration Court proceedings. Other applications were similarly dealt with. In the case of P. Phelaii, charged with abusing two free labourers in a livenstable, the solicitor for the accused raised the point that a livery stable was not a public place within 'the meaning of the Act. Magistrate Hewitt said it had been proved conclusively that accused had uttered strong, horrible and filthy language. This was the first case arising out of the labour dispute, and he warned anyone coming before him on such a charge, that he intended making the penalty heavy. The conduct of the Reefton men had been most exemplary, and they would realise the damage done their cause by vile and lilthy Inwriiatre. Another case -was adjourned for further evidence.