WAIHI STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 166, 12 July 1912, Page 5

WAIHI STRIKE.

i ■ — PREPARATION OF TIMBER. BUSH CONTRACT RESUtMED. (By"Telegraph.Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, this day. Mr. J. Comes, who previous to the strike had a contract for supplying mining timber to the Waihi Company, has resumed work in the bush as heretofore. BANDSMEN ON STRIKE. OVERDUE LOAN INTEREST. (By Telegraph. Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, this day. The action of some of the members of the Waihi Federal Band in taking part in Monday evening's anti-militarist demonstration came in for censure at the hands of some of the borough Councillors at a meeting last evening. It was reported that both the actingconductor and secretary had been asked to tender their resignations, and that the band intended to formally disband on Monday next. The matter was then dropped. The Borough Council resolved to ask the Government to allow the demand made by the Treasury for the sum ol £483, half-yearly interest on the inscribed waterworks loan, to stand over for the present on account of the strike, the borough revenue being almost depleted.

AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS.

I JON BEHALF OK ENGINE DRIVER*. I —— £2 EACH IN SIX WEEKS. j The Waihi Chamber of Commerce has written to the local Chamber of Com- : merce, stating that it has been approached by representatives of the Waihi Engine-drivers' Association with reference to the place of that Association in the present labour crisis In Waihi. It would appear, states the letter, that very little on side assistance has, so far, been received by the Association, £2 being the i maximum payment made to members for the six weeks of the strike. Locally., numerous offers of assistance had been received, hut before any action in -the matter was being taken by the Waihi Chamber of Commerce, that body wanted to know of any proper organisation being formed to deal with the relief of the Association in a manner warranted by the importance of the hody. It was necessary to point out that the decision of tho present dispute rested on the action of the Engine-drivers' Association. The Association could not maintain the position it had taken up without financial assistance and unless help was forthcoming the men would be compelled to seek work in other parts of the Domin- ] ion. In addition to the serious loss of I wages, members of the Association perjsonallv were having a very fed time at 'Waihi. As the men felt that they were really bearing the burden of the light on the employers' behalf, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce would readily un-ldnrstan-1 that, unless outside a.=sistance ! and enc-oniiacement were forthcoming the ' men might, easily abandon their position ;in disgust. i A reply has been sent that the Auck- . land Chamber has no desire to favour 'either side in the dispute, and is not 'aware of any organisation being formed Ito deal with the question of relief. ft is believed that the attitude of the employers was that it was not desirable to ! interfere between the two parties conj cerned. i

j FUNDS FROM AUSTRALIA,

WELLINGTON WORKERS' ADVICE. NOT PREPARED TO ASSIST. iRr Cable.- Press Association. — Copyright.i ' SYDNEY, .lu!y 11. At a meeting of the Sydney Labour Council's executive, it was reported that -i letter had been received from the Wellington Trades Council, to the effect that the Waihi and Reefton men J had made a mistake in striking, anil that lie Wellington Council was not. prepared to assist the New Zealand I Federation of Labour or to issue an appeal to all affiliated unions for assistance, believing that the Americen system of warfare was unsuitable to the; Dominion of New Zealand. One delegate said there were four! Labour Councils in New Zealand. It! was strange that only one had been con-; I suited. Whether the men had made « j technical mistake or not he would supI port them. | Another delegate said that when workers were seeking more wajres and shorter hours they were never wrong. The executive stated that it was seeking further information from the Auckland Trades Council. A proposal to make an immediate appeal to the unions for assistance was negatived. j i

TIMARU STRIKE SETTLED.

RAILWAYMEN JOIN UNION. •(By Telegraph.Press Association.) TIMARC, Thursday. The wharf workers' strike at Timani over two railway bunds who had refused to join tlis Waterside I'nion, being members of the Railway Servants' Society, was settled to-day. Mr. Semple interviewed the stationmaster. and an agreement was arrived at that i the two men should withdraw from the Railway Servant*' Society and join the Waterside Cnion. They will, however, remain as special railway workers, to be sent from wharf to wharf as the stationmaster requires, instead of being amenable to th,- union rule that a man must finish the boat started on before going to another. Work will be resumed tomorrow, but is not possible to-day, owing to the heavy rain. One non-unionist tally clerk will be objected to in turn. Notice has been given that he must join or be put off under a ■threat that no work will be done.