MONSTER MEETING OF MINERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9116, 16 June 1908, Page 5

MONSTER MEETING OF MINERS.

AN EXCITING TIME. BT TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCI YTION WAIHI, June 15. As a result of a conference between the Miners' Union delegates and mine officials, held on Saturday the 6th inst., in referenc to a resolution passed by the union that all mining contracts should be carrioi out on co-operative "lines, with no wages men, a tremendous meeting of miners war held on Saturday night, over a thousand men being present, the Mayor presiding. The meeting was called by mutual arrangement between the mine representatives and delegates, to discuss the matter. It was addressed by mine officials and union representatives. Mr Barry, superintendent of the Waihi Company, produced plans of the undergiojnd workings, showing that the co-jperative system on a large scale would disorganise the system at any working of the mine nt which the company's returns were regular and consistent. He also said the system would cause dissension among the men, and produced contract records to prove that where the system other than with small parties had been followed in the mine, the men had disagreed, and had reduced their number of partners. Ht also pointed out that in the event of a strike, the mine would have to close down, resulting in the stoppage of the gold duty, and throwing borough employees idle, as borough works depended on the gold revenue. If a strike once started, there was no telling when it would end. Mr Armstrong, president of the' union, supported the proposed system. He 'said that as a resolution had been passed by the union to introduce it, unless an honourable settlement was arrived at, he would never advise the miners to crawl down. Several other speakers for and against the proposal addressed the meeting, which was at times excitad. The meeting dispersed without any resolution being passed.