THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 120, 8 October 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

THE RESUMPTION OF WORK. A HARMLESS DEMONSTRATION. By Telegraph—Press As«oci*tion. ' Waihi, Last Night. Non-workers and women in different parts of Waihi were early astir. Long before the hour for starting at the mines, knots of people assembled in places where they expected to see workers. Women with perambulators were also in evidence, arriving with others from the outskirts of the town. Groups gathered in the street opposite the Central Hotel, in the vicinity of the Railway Station and at points along the line of route of the Waihi Company's Awakino tramline. Refreshed by Sunday's rest, the women turned up in greater numbers, the chief points of attraction being the foot of the company's No. 2 shaft, the mine road leading up from Seddon street, and the company's railway crossing opposite the No. 5 shaft. The vicinity of these places was occupied by large crowds, the numbers being much greater than on Saturday, and, as has been the case latterly, women were in the majority and took a much more active part in the demonstration than the men. As soon as the vehicles containing the workers hove in sight, the women sprang into activity. A chorus of "boohooing" emanated from them, and as the vehicles passed mixed expressions of feeling were manifested by different factions.

As the company's brake- with thirtyodd workers crossed the street, a number of well-known loyalists cheered heartily.

The whistle at the Grand Junction Mine sounded this morning for the first time since the commencement of the strike. Several men responded to the call. They are to be engaged at the power-house. The workers at Waikino are having an easy time with the pickets. They are in a vast majority, and frequent billiardrooms and other places of resort without let or hindrance. When the pickets enter a billiard-room and see any workers there they retire, and life is becoming so monotonous in the now busy town that they are anxious to get out of it.

Twenty-four informations have been laid against persons in connection with the recent demonstrations.

A man named Meagher was arrested this morning on a charge of using obscene language. ;; The following official statement was supplied to-day by the union:—"The additional number of men who resumed work to-day is thirteen, of whom'six are actual underground workers, making the total number of miners who have started since Wednesday seven. Another four men have had underground experience, but are prevented from working below for health reasons. Seven members of the union have started, of whom at least two are unfinancial. An additional number have been drafted in from Waikino, but these are not an accession to {lie actual streigth." A STRIKER RELEASED. - Auckland, Monday. Francis Putmn-ny one of the AVaihi miners who was imprisoned for not giving .a surety to keep the peace, left igoal after two weeks' detention, the required sureties having been provided. THE FEDERATION HOLIDAY. Auckland, Monday. The. General La-lxirers Union carried a resolution without dissent, agreeing to ■the 24 hours' strike proposed by the Federation, as a, preterit against the imprisonment of the Waihi strikers.