THE WAIHI LABOUR DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1191, 28 July 1911, Page 3

THE WAIHI LABOUR DISPUTE.

STRIKE AGAIN AVERTED. A mass. meeting under tho auspiccs cf the Miners' Union, convened to •jor.siaer tho companies' final decision in tho matter of dispute re payment of winding engineers, was held in the Academy Theatre on Tuesday evening (states tho Waihi correspondent of tho Auckland "Star"). There were about 1)00 present. Early in the evening crowds of men mads their way into town! and from " to 8 a continous human stream flowed through the outer gates of the theatre, and were checked by the secretary of the union as they passed in, only fcona-fide members being admitted.

Mr. Parry (president of the unioiO. in opening the meeting, said that an agreement which he now produced was the one accepted by the last, mass meeting, and that delegates had no authority to sign the companies' agreement, which was different to the union's. Their agreement included lis. all round for winders (hauling nii'ii), and made no stipulation, as to big engine.-. He alleged that the companiesl, printed circular was.published bofare the clause dealing with engine-drivers had Iven fixed. .Mr."Parry said-further th:it when he was recently 1 in' Auckland he iniwriewed Mr. Rhodes o:i Ihe matter in dispute, but the re.-ult was ui'silisfactorv. Tho president (lien rcjd tho Federation's advice as to the best course to pursue, which was to Ihr effect that the feeling of the men be ta'-.en by way of a ballot, accepting or rejecting, the (agreement; but, in the event of iejection, work to go on till the union was advised •/j- the federation. lie (Mr. Parry) considered tho time was not opportune to strike, and advised them, to . accept. the federation's advice. It was then'moved and seconded: "'That a ballot bo taken according U> the suggestion made by the federation." General discussion, waxing warm at times, ensued, as to what- was the real decision arrived at l>y the conference # m regard to pay of winders, after which the motion was put and carried. A secret ballot was thou taken, with the following' result-.-In favour of signing the agreement, 485: against signing, 387; informal. 7; majority in favour of. signing, tIS. • It was resolved to sign the agreement. • Between two and three hundred people were anxiouMy waiting outside tho hall for the result! and its 'announcement was received with, many expressions ot relief.