WAIHI'S PLIGHT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 138, 11 June 1912, Page 2

WAIHI'S PLIGHT

EFFECT OF THE STRIKE PENALISING THE THKIFTY. (BT TXLEaRAFH — SPECIAL TO THJt VOST.j WAIHI, This Day. Another mass meeting 6f members of the Waihi Miners' Union was held in the Union Hall' y ester day, and was largelyattended. ' ' . Ml". W. M'Lennan, vice-president of the union, was in ithe chair, and Messrs. Webb, Parry, and Eraser were present. The question of opposing the applications of the mining companies for protection of their properties for a period of six months, which will be made at tthe Warden's Court on Friday nest, was dis. cussed, and it was decided that no opposition should' be offered to the applications. The reason given for not opposing the applications was that in the event of the failure of the companies to obtain protection the owners would be compelled to resume mining operations, and would engage "scab" labour to work the minet>. Reference was made to the proposed conference between the Federation delegates and the representatives' of the Mine Owners' Association, and the meeting approved the conditions suggested by the Federation, which state that the miners will not consent to work amicably with the members of 'the Engine-drivers' Union, but it is quite evident that any conference imist prove abortive, us the mine-owners have already stipulated that the, matters in dispute cannot be discussed unless the differences between the Miners' Union and the Engine-drivers' Union are first Battled by the parties immediately concerned. The course to be adopted in distributing strike pay was dealt with, and it was decided that the maximum weekly pay to any one member should -be 30s, and that payments should, be confined to cases of distress This means that the more thrifty members of the union who .have saved something from their earnings will have to spend 'their savings in maintaining themselves and their families during the period of idleness, ' The ■ matter of granting permits to those desirous of leaving the district .also formed food for discussion, ajid it "was agreed that clearances should only be granted v to members who are financially embarrassed, thus , necessitating departure in search of employment elsewhere. In the event of their obtaining work they are required to contribute to the' best of their "ability to the strike fund in aid of their comrades remaining behind. At the same time the committee impressed on the men that they were desirous thai all men who could possibly do so should remain in Waihi. Clearances are also to be granted to men who had'already left without permits, subject to the imposition of fines "where it was found that the conditions fixed by the Strike Committee had not been complied with. i It is a difficult, matter to arrfv« at an accurate estimate of the number of people who have left Waihi never to return, as not a few of the strikers whose funds permit have been making holiday and visiting relatives and friends in other, parts. At the eairie , time, it would probably be near the mark to say that from 100 to 150 of the men who have gone away have no intention of returning, and a considerable proportion of them are married men who have taken their wives and families with them. During the past three weeks between twenty and thirty truckloads of furniture have been railed from Waihiij and a large quantity of household effectjs is at present stored in the station ehed awaiting despatch. Empty houses are to be^een in aUL'parfcs^ofi the. town, and there is every indication that the exodus will continue unless something arises to suggest the prospect of an 'early settlement of the dispute. . The average daily attendance at the ' public Schools' has decreased considerably" over' 100; hardly a day passes without notification being received by the masters of the intention of pupils to leave. It is computed that the population, of Waihi has fallen, by from 400 to 500 since the strike was declared.