HUNTLY & WAIHI.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 5

HUNTLY & WAIHI.

THE DISMISSALS,

WAS IT A BLOW AT UNIONISM?

emphatic denial.

BY CHAIRMAN OF DIRECTORS.

(By ToloEranh,—Press Association.)

. , Auckland, October 18. It has been stated that tho decision of the directors of the Huntly mines in Miners' 1 "?! wee «tivo of tho Waikato EJ""/ distinct blow ut unionism. 1 Ins phraso hus been a favourite ono amongst tho revolutionary inombers of Hie Federation of Labour du£ "iff tlio last or two. A. "Herald" Tkmniri r' V 0 'r® cllairmtll l of tho ljmpm Coinpajiy directors and. asked HIU" 8 J'™' "S.nrding theso statements.' Was your action, in auv wav nn nt wS^slfed 6 . tr ' k0 a bl ° ff at Uttion k mf '' 1» "Nothing was, or is, further from n,i» minds, Mr. Alison replied, "Tho dirccgamo' lr °TW ,iUlren « « Kamo. inoy know, as every omnlovor knows, that it is now much too late to min U Ff n° n eucl ' foolisl > thing, men if they thought that tho abolition of unionism would bo a wise proceeding I can only repca , with all tho emphasis that I am capable of, that tho directors recogmso fully, not only the right, but tho desirability—if you like, the neewsity iT,„ i "i°f er ?, mS. ! nr S° industry being banded together officially in a union, and memlfers" ® { ° T th ° ljonc^ t °*

"It has been said that if a new union were formed under tho Arbitration Act, WttSef™" 1 ' 1 it.

<~i" I "n, n < a M m i° y° u '," J , fr " A lis<m answer. c<li that that is absolutely false. Tha directors would welcome the formation of such a union, and I mny hero state that they have 110 desire to upg tho present position as a means towards altering tha terms of tho existing award. The formawon of such a union would be a solution of tho present unfortunate position, and it would make for industrial peace. Ye«! And for tho solidarity of labour as well, it must bo evident to all unprejudiced persons that tho tactics that have been adopted recently are surely and rapid]*, destroying that very solidarity of LaWi which tho promoters of these tactics claim to be fostering." TRAM MEN SECEDE FROM THE FEDERATION, m, n, Auckland, October 18. ilio tramways Union decided by i largo majority to secede from tho Fedora, Hon oi Labour. Tho secret ballot, a) which a record voto was taken, resulted as follows:—In favour of withdrawal, 3411 against withdrawal, 171; majority lot withdrawal, 170, FURTHER COURT CASES. Tj.ni. Waihi > October 18, Further charges relating to conduct in tho public streets were heard before Mr. * . * l 1 raser this afternoon. wiiton Moore was charged with using insulting language to - Fairfax and others. Ho pleaded not guilty. Tho evideuce of four witnesses in support of tho charge was given. Defendant stated that tho ( Oovernment, police, and press were against him and his cause. ■ Tho Magistrate said that, as there was Mn 0110 J A a '' 8 ° P rcf ™'"d against Mooie, and that oflenco had not been repeated, defendant would only bo required to give his word that ho would not ropeat tho offence. On this condition ho (tho magistrate) would dismiss tha case,

Defendant said that this was not a fair request, m view of his comrade, Smith, Hot being given tho same chance. rho magistrate pointed out that .thai,, charge against .Smith was quite different and was of a moro serious charactei. Defendant still appeared to bo obstiuate, and the magistrate mado a furthoc appeal, pointing out that ho was only asking dofendant for his baro word. In the previous cases it had been urged by th« offenders that they had an objection t<> filming sureties. Ho was now only askMR that they would givo their word that similar breaches of tho law would not bo repeated. This applied to cases where only one offence had been committed. Defendant made no respouso to tho appeal, and tho magistrate then ordered defendant to find a surety of .£SO in himeelf and another of =£50, or two sureties of £50 each. He explained that, in finding the sureties no money was required. It was only necessary that tho authorities should bo satisfied as to tha bona fides of thoso finding sureties, Moore was then taken into custody. Other charges of using insulting lan> guago wore preferred against Thos. Boss, Harold E. Miller, Jos. Rogers, Chas. Fitters, Samuol Thornally, Edward Bahr, Alexr. Sanderson, Harry Berry, William MCan, Chas. Perry, J. O'Brien, Albert Johnston, Michael Sarach, Thos. Howald. Arthur Collins, and John Heath. In each case defendants pleaded not BUllty. Evidence in support of tho charges was given, but defendants each in turn intimated that they did not wish to call evidence in defence.

Defendants also declined the overtures of tho Bench, and cach of them was ordered to find sureties of .£SO, and another of .£SO to keep the ponce for twolyo months. Tho men were then taken to' gaol, and will later bo sent to Mount'' Ldon Gaol, Aucklaud,

I rede-rick Evans was also charged with using insulting language, and pleaded not Guilty. Ho was one of a number who had on only ono occasion, committed an offence. <

Tho magistrate niado tho same offer (is lie had to tho otliora—tliafc was that ha would dismiss tho charge providing that defendant gavo his word that tho offence would not bo repeated. Tho charge against Evans was dismissed oil . this understanding, . David M'Kano was charged with "following up," thereby causing annoyance and offence. 110 pleaded not guilty. Evidence supporting tho chargo Was adduced. Defendant intimated that he had no.desiro to make any defence. Tho magistral said that ho could onlv make the lisnnl order, viz., a surety of .£SO in himself, and .mother of .£SO, to keep tho peace for twelvo months. Similar charges against Chas. Opie, D. Magronity, Chas. Gardiner, and Ed. Arm-, strong wore adjourned till to-morrow morning. LABOURERS & THE REBUKE. , , Auckland, October 18. Iho fact that tho Auckland watersida workers had arranged to hold a iua=a meeting this morning at eight o'clock, and had duly notified tho various employ-' ei's concerned of this arrangement was construed, by many people, to moan that the waterside men proposed to go on stnko to-day, Such, however, was not quite the intention, as notice of intention to hold a meeting is invariably given lrn waterside workers. Yesterday afternoon, however, tho Watorsido Workers' Union' received a message from tho executive of tho iodoration of Labour, advising them, that tlio muss meeting called for this morning \>o not hold. Immediately on receipt of this advieo tho secretary or the union informed tlio shipping companies) of tlio change of arrangement'. It lias! now beon decided to hold tho mass moet-1 me of watersido workers on SundaW morning at 10 o'clock, when it is expected! that delegates from tlio union and from r?t CTat ' o "' B executive will bo present, 1 o-day thoro has l>ccn no sign indicating tlu\t ;i strike of tho general labourers is still r\\ ovont to l)o considered. Comparatively few of tho men who aro idle aro acting the part of strikers, and tho incongruous part of tho situation is that jobs, which wore, vacated have, for tho most part, been filled.

Then also it must havo been vgry discouraging for (ho loaders of this attempt bocauso the general labourers' strike lias it. is understood, boon rebuked bv the oxecutivo of tho Federation of Labour. Tlio Huntly minors hnvo been rebuked for faking action boforo authority was obtained from headquarters, and tfio advioo to tho Auckland Watorsido Workers to cancel tho meeting called for this • morning was also in the nature of adverso commcnt 011 their action. It would appear, therefore, that tho federation's oxocutivo is fully resolved not to countenanco any unauthorised movement whereby, in the faco of an already difficult problem, thoy are faood with a position .Much msjf become stiU mora pomplicated, >