THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10655, 10 June 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

PROMINENT OFFICIAL r.ESSGNS

(By Telegraph, — Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, Last Night

The Auckland Star states that Mr W. E. Parry, Vice-President of the 'Federation, of Labour, and president of/the ,W(aa'hi Miners'. Union, has resigned the former position on account, it i& said, of what he believes to be the adverse critical attitude shown towards hira by the memhar.s of various federated unions in regard to his 'action in bringing on the strike f*i Waihi.

ATTITUDE OF THE MEN,

MR PARRY HAS NOT.-RESIGNED.

MASS' MEETING AT WAIHI.

(By Telegraph — Press Association.)

•WAIHI, Last Night

The effects of the strike, which has now had a run of four weeks, have been a marked inactivity in every ihrancfr kxi local trade, wdth the exception! of the billiard isaloons.

The general demeanour of the strikers leaves little to .complain about. N'otwithstanding 'their 1 enforced" idleness, they show no inclination.! to make any outward demonstration. Yet it is believed that a section of the idle men are discontented, and are out of Sympathy with the' Federation; of Labour.- ...

Considerable interest was aroused in. the town on Saturday .afternoon' 'by a report (vide a Press Association, telegram) that W. E. Parry had iresigned his Vice-Presidency of the Federation of Labour. The news gave additional zest to the meeting of miners to he held that evening, at which it had been announced that P. C. (President of the Federation: of 'Labour), (Mr Parry (VicePresident), and *P. Fraser (President of ,tlie Auckland General Labourers' Union), were to- speak. However, it transpired that there was no truth in the ireport that Mr Parry had resigned. ~ ■•.....■•

On Saturday evening a. .mass, meeting was held. .-".'.

'ifr Parry opened the proceedings, ai:d, .was straight amy questioned as: to what the Federation had done-re-garding the Auckland outers' dispute-- ■-"• " '.'•'■ "' -S'> "■!■■>. The questioner was greeted with applause. ' Mr Perry expressed surprise at &uch a- question "at (that stage of the game," stating that Mr Fraser would Drohably'deal with the question.. Mr : .'_«rry, proceeding, urged the strikers to stand solid, and have confidence in the Federation, no matter what the present, appearances were. The reason* that the Federation had decided on a sectional fight instead of calling but .the affiliated Unions was, the speaker said, because,the. adoption cf this course would enable the organisers to stump the country and - explain the cause of .the strike and collect funds to provide for the workers involved, pending a settlement. Regarding, the opposition to the Eiigincdrivers* Union and its registration un-, der the Arbitration .Act, the speaker ■ referred to the steps • taken by the Federation, to prevent registration'.' The Executive had waited; oh the Minister of Labour, and had pointed out that the granting of the applies tion would place minorities in the position to dictate to majorities,- explaining that .a"handful of .members of the Waihi .Miners' Union could, withdraw and start another. Union. In, reply, the Minister 'slaid there, was ho other course open than that' of granting the application. Mi- Parry, before concluding, gave an emphatic denial to the report circulated,' that he had resigned office as Vice-Presi-dent of the Labour Federation. He was pleased to tmts that a conference had been arranged between* the Federation and the jMme-owneris'•■■ Association., . This; indidatecT,. '.the speaker; ; said; that'Hhe mine-ewtaeris hia'd withdrawn, from/ the. .conditions:, suggested ■, by .the clauses insisting that the -members of the Waihi Miners' Union' moist guarantee to work amicably with the angm«-driveire and settle the> dispute between the two Unions ; be&>re the owners would ibe prepared to discuss matters, with ,the Federation.: delegates.' '■•/■" ■■ ' ■; '

Mr Wehfo, in, his address, made a strong .appeal to the mien to stand firm. If occasion'demanded, he would stake hie reputation on' the Federation, and said he was tanee* enough to admit if he thought the organisation was likely to suffer defeat in its fight for the welfare of the workers. The; Waihi mem must trust the Executive. .'■ ■• ' .' ■• ••■..■' ■'■-"''

Mr, Fraseir (the,'last speaker), replying <to a question ias. .what the Fed-,., eration, had done in 1 connection witli' the Auckland General Labourer's' dispute", ■■ said"*he wate -not; ptiepaired ..to

eay whether the federation lir.d acted iwiseJy or otherwise in the matter, hut he believed things would right themselves, lie had implicit faith inj the organisation'. Interjections followed his reiterated request for, the Waihi men to stand solid.

A general discussion then ensued, during which a member took exception to the moneys so far .received being treated as a distress fund, and to the system df. distribution. He contended that the money should be dealt ■with as strike pay, and the members should be able to,,.claim it as H&edr right. , • This suggestion was received with applause. A motion was put to the effect 1 * "That this Union endorses the action of the Federation of Labour." ' An amendment, or direct negative, followed, "That no endorsement' of the action* of the Federation of Labour should be given, pendmg the settlement of the strike." "' Mr Parry asked the mover of tho amendment to .withdraw it, adding, '"Do not let us have to appeal to you to withdraw the amendment, as im the event of youir being 'compelled to kJo so it would go forth that the Union, has lost confidence in the Federation."

Subsequently the amendmetat was withdrawn.

• The motion was also withdrawn, some of ,the members of the Committee minting out that while not desirous of voting against it, they could mot "endorse the whole action of the federation.

. It was said by those-in touch with the feeling cf the men that had the taiotioni, ken submitted it would have been,. ,•'