LABOUR MATTERS WAIHI STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 11, 12 July 1912, Page 10

LABOUR MATTERS WAIHI STRIKE

NO PROSPECT OF SETTLEMENT. MINERS WILL FIGHT ON. [UT TiLIS«AfH— SPUCIAI. TO TH» POST.J WAIHI, This Day. A settlement of the Waihi strike is not in sight; it is, indeed, no nearer to-day than it was two months ago. The employers still call for, and insist upon, a binding agreement under the Arbitration Act, and tke miners refuse to become parties to any puch agreement. From the workers' standpoint the struggle is unquestionably an unequal one, and one ■which can end only in their defeat; but they state they will fight on so long us funds permit. It is thus improbable that the mining industry, upon which the people of Waihi are solely dependent, will be resumed this year. The demands upon the strike funds are not heavy, from £600 to £800 per week being Bufficient to meet payments to the workers remaining in the district, and the recipients are not likely to seek a solution of the trouble whilst sufficient money is forthcoming' to keep body and soul together. That the Federation of Labour cannot force a settlement satisfactory to the workers is quite clear, but the men are stubborn, and not yet prepared to admit the failure of the organisation to whicft they have given their allegiance. Its weakness will, however, be demonstrated to them as time goes on. The employers are out to bring about its downfall, and ■ iyill assuredly succeed". Already the writing is on the walL The Northern Steam Snip Company and the Kaitangata coal-mine owners having refused to recognise the Federation, other employers will follow, and the Federation will be compelled to show fight or; die a lingering death. THE WATER BOGEY. Not a few of the miners have held to, the impression fostered by the strike leaders that the accumulation of water in 'the mine! will at no distant date cause sufficient damage to the underground workings to compel the companies to resume operations, but the impression is entirely erroneous, and may be safely dismissed. So slowly is the water rising that it is not expected to reach No. 10 level (No. 9 plan level) in the Waihi mine. Before the end, when it Teaches and fills the level, the damage will be but trifling." Should there t£en be no indication of a settlement of the dispute, the water will be allowed to go on rising, and to flow out of the adit level of the Waihi mine, and still the mine-owners will not be prepared to resunw work unless the men accept an agreement under the Arbitration Act. This on the authority of the superintendent of the company, who was spoken to relative to the water question recently. Whilst on this subject, it might also be mentioned that for every day the water accumulates in tho mines, it will, when mining is resumed, take two days to raise it to the surface, and thus several months must elapse before men could b© employed in the lowlevels. Should the strike continue until the end of the current year, mining would consequently not be in full swing again until well on towards the close of 1915, and the sufferers would be the men unable to find employment. CANCELLATION OF CONTRACTS. It has also been frequently stated by the. underground workers that, once the strike -is- over they will be entitled to resume work in. the contracts held by' them prior' to the dispute. This is not so; the matter is one in which the em--ployers may exercise discretionary powers. When the men came out on strike they all existing contracts null and void. By absenting themselves from work they broke one of the vital clauses embodied in the agreements entered into between the companies .and the men in connection with contract works. It now rests with the employers to . say whether the men shall go back to their old jobs when mining is resumed. Should they not be permitted to do so, it will be no. easy matter for them to find, equally remunerative employment elsewhere. The competent contractor in Waihi earned on the average 15s per day,, and, generally speaking, did not actually work more than 'six hours per shift. He worked under conditions which compared more than favourably' with those obtaining int mining communities. 1 in other parts of the world. Th» mines in which he worked, are admnV tedly inclined to be hot, but are well ventilated, and, for the most oart, dry. Ho also found a comfortable house or suitable accommodation handy to his work,- and' purchased' his commodities at a cheaper rate than on the majority of mining camps.