A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 142, 15 June 1908, Page 3

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

POSITION OF WAIHI COMPANY.

l_v Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) I

WAIHI, this day. The largest meeting of men ever held in the district took place on Saturday night, when the miners attended at the Academy of Music at the invitation of the mine representations to discuss the present serious state of affairs brought about in connection with the contract system which obtains in Waihi mines, the desire of a great many of the men being the introduction of a co-operative system, in which all men would share and ' share alike. The Mayor, J. Newth, presided. The first speaker was Mr. H. P. Barry, general superintendent of the Waihi Company, and he informed the meeting that the management had decided to reject the demands made by the union as contained j in Mr. McXaughton's proposals, their rejection being based on three grounds: j because they were illegal—the Arbitra- | tion award binding both parties down till j 1910, besides being impracticable and unjust. He dealt with each point, and, i to demonstrate the impracticability of i working large contracts hy small parties, he showed by large and comprehensive plans of the blocks standing in the mine j how impossible it was to carry on development work at a profit. Speaking as to the probability of a strike occurring, he stated that if contra?tors' wages went out the Company would not carry on with a reduced staff, and, to save expense whilst the strike lasted, the mine and all the batteries would close down. The mine must either be fully manned or not at all. Messrs. Brown (Grand Junction), Armstrong (president of the Miners' Union), McXr.Tighton. Ingram, and others spoke on behalf of the union demands, whilst Mr. Katz presented a petition on behalf of contractors opposing the same, and he was supported by Mr. Johnston (late vice-president of the union), Mr. Campbell also addressed the meeting in support of co-operative contract, and j unred the men to strike if necessary. J Subsequently, at the close of the meeting when he attempted to move a vote of j thanks, the whole meeting howled him j down. The meeting was very orderly I throughout otherwise. A special meeting j of the I'nion will now be held to make a definite stand one way or the other. All the men went to work to-day as | usual, but a good deal of talk has been j occasioned by a rumour that the wages j men emplovod by the contractor? will '•come out." It i? hoped, however, that wiser counsels will pre-.ail this week. '