THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 116, 2 October 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

"THE FEDERATION OF LABOR.

PREPARING FOR THE "SCABS."

By Telegraph.—Press Association

Waihi, Last Night. At a mass meeting of strikers this afternoon the chairman announced that the business was to appoint pickets in connection "with the resumption of work at the Waihi mine, and also io hear Mr. Fraser's (a member of the executive of the Federation of Labor) message. The latter addressed the men. He said that the Federation approved of everything the Waihi men had done, including the decision of those going to gaol, and that the Federation was satisfied that the mine-owners were beaten but would not give in. Even if the mine owners admitted defeat, the men now in gaol would have to be released before the strike would be off. The companies were getting outsiders in for the purpose of decoying local men to return to work. In the speaker's opinion the 500 strikers would go to gaol before returning to work under existing conditions. He criticised the Commissioner of Police's blue-coats, and added that every member of the executive was prepared to go to gaol if necessary. An elaborate system of picketing for to-morrow was then arranged, men being appointed to occupy various points in the vicinity of the Waihi mine. The chairman instructed the men not to use violence, but tactics sueli as calling men "scabs," etc., were to be indulged in as much as they liked. He said the police were only waiting a chance of a riot to justify their coming to Waihi. He asserted that only about three Waihi Union men'were going back to work. Included in the programme for to-morrow the women were to have the use of the hall and to have a roving commission.