STARTLING PICTURE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 5

STARTLING PICTURE.

WHAT STRIKE HAS DONE AT WAIHI

(By TelesTapli.-Press Association.) Auckland, August 2. Messrs., R, Triggs and P. Hally, the two Conciliation Commissioners who have been making inquiries into tho conditions oi affairs at Waihi, returned to Auckland last, night. Both Mr. Triggs and Mr. Hally will go south by tho express tonight, their report now being ready for consideration by tho Minister. Mr. Triggs explained to a reporter this morning that their mission was not in any way to attempt to effect conciliation, but to secui-o first-hand information, and to make a minuto investigation with tho object of presenting a comprehensive report on the situation to the Department. ( "Oi course we can't toll you what is in our report,' he said, "but you people here in Auckland would bo astonished to sco the state of affairs in Waihi to-day. I could not have bolieved it if I had not seen it for myself," "It was very noticeable," said Mr. Hally at another stago of the interview, "that there was a deal of reserve shown on tho part ot the Miners' Union. There was an Attempt right through to withhold information regarding tho true stato oi affairs." At the samo Kino both commissioners mado it quite clear that tho information which had been placed at their disposal, bad loft not a bare corner. Thev had taken statements from all classes of tho community—from about CO pcoplo altogether—and, although tho union was not officially represent cd, individual miners had come forward to givo testimony. Everyone had been affected by tho strike; everyono was suffering; and the tradespeople in particular were in dire straits. "Tho bottom has been knocked out of I Waihi," they said. "You can't believe how bad tilings are." "Fancy," said Mr. Hally. "grown men walking about in a civilised country with pistols in their pockets.',' Ho explained, in answer to a request for fuller particulars, that sonio Waihi men (engine drivers they were) carried pistols about, because they felt that personal violence might bo attempted. The town was half empty, the commissioners went on to say, and there were cases whero people had sold valuable houses and, furniture for a few pounds. Cases of distress were numerous, and tho hospital was full. One woman had lost her child from diphtheria, due, it was alleged, to the stoppage of the water supplv for flushing purposes. The sickness that filled the hospital was stated to bo tho result of distress and hardship, diroctlv duo to tho strike. Tho attendance at the schools had fallcfa away greatly. Whole families had left tho town, and the Tech nical School might just as well close up for all the scholars there wore seeking instruction.

The commissioners, in conclusion, remarked that they could see little chance of the striko being ended vrhilo funds were available for the strikers.