THE WAIHI DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 53, 4 March 1901, Page 5

THE WAIHI DISPUTE.

(By Telegraph.—C t/n Correspondent.)

WAIHI, Saturday.

Mr Jackson Palmer, M.H.1!., visited Waihi to-day to consult with the Union Committee. He has had an interview with the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon. The Union insist that they have ample evidence to show the reason for the dismissals.

At a meeting of the Auckland branch of the Seamens' Union on Friday, tie following resolution was passed : "That this meeting of the Auckland Branch of the Federated Seamen's Union tenders its heartiest sympathy to the Miners' Union in its efforts to obtain fair treatment for the miners employed by the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and also expresses its disapproval of the arbitrary action practised by the said Company, and think it more than passing strange that the officers of the Miners' Union should be dismissed from the employ of the above Company immediately after the Union's proposals for the Company's consideration. This Branch of the Seamen's Union also expresses its earnest hope that the Miners' Union "Will succeed in obtaining justice for the officers who have been discharged from the employ of the Waihi Company."

* MEETING OF MINERS,

SPEECH BY MR JACKSON PALMER

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WAIHI. this day. Mr Jackson Palmer addressed an Immense and enthusiastic meeting oi' miners in the Union Hall on Saturday ! night on the present difficulty. The j Chairmun of Committee presided. Mr ! Palmer delivered an eloquent address which was vociferously applauded. He said he was sorry to meet them under present circumstances. He was sorry to hear that some of the oldest and j most experienced hands bais been dis-1 missed after serving six or seven years. ! •He should have been in Waihi before, ' but was engaged with the Minister of lands inspecting the Piako swamp, with a view to opening u=p settlement j which would provide homes for mm- i ers. The reason of the dismissals was ! undoubtedly the miners' action in re- j 'lasting a higher scale of wages. It j was a foolish thing otherwise. There j were in Waihi 1000 miners, and out of , these the executive of the Miners' i Union (numbering only five) were singled out and dismissed immediately after the scale was forwarded to the company. There was not a shadow of doubt, for these men were Union spokesmen, who came forward on the miners' behnlf and asked for increased wages. He considered that the object of the company in dismissing the men was to crush out unions. Who would volunteer to take a responsible position In the Union after this? It was aiming a blow at Unionism, and the company was defying the whole law of New Zealand by its present action. It was a question of n lock-out and Intimidation. X the

company had a good case they would let it go jo the Conciliation Board to decide The Board was there to do justice. (Applause.) This question was not one of wages. The most important chief question they had to face was that of intimidation and the crushing out of unions. If this succeeded where were the}'? The opinion of all other unions was this: "We do not know'whether the demand for increased wages is right or wrong, but we do know that if such action succeeds it is then good-bye to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act and to nil unionism." (Applause.) The Premier's own legislation was threatened. The union had taken a straightforward position (applause), and had obeyed the law, and they were admired for it. However, the Executive officers would not suffer for their action. (Applause.) The Court would order justice to be done. The law was that once trouble commenced there should bo no sacking or lock-out. The Company had defied the law. The extraordinary thing- was that the Comnany denied that the reason for the dismissal was the demand made by the Union, yet they singled out Union officials and dismissed them immediately after the wages scale was sent in. The Premier was doing his best in the matter, and was making enquiries of Mr Tregear. of the Labour Department, in Wellington. He had been sent for, and would arrive in Waihi on Tuesday. The Premier could not interfere with regard to wages, but he certainly would against intimidation. In conciusion. Mr Palmer said he would relieve any of them from being marked men in the future by being their spokesman, and would do all he knew to help them. (Prolonged applause.) Mr Palmer then answered several questions. The matter of certain lists, or petitions, lying in he Company's office re various matters was warmly discussed. Mr Palmer said it was neither fair nor was it allowed the Company to gain any advantage over any person because of their position being subordinate. A hearty vote of thanks was carried to Mr Palmer, and the following proposition

"That the members of this branch of the Thames Miners' Union are satisfied that the men who were dismissed by the Waihi Co. have -received dismissal on account of the connection and position which they hold in the Miners Union."

Messrs Duncan, Tregear, Potts, and McGowan are expected to arrive in Waihi on Tuesday or Wednesday. Today s a close holiday for the Union Day sports. Mr Palmer remains at Waihi.