IS THE END IN SIGHT?

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 74, 24 September 1912, Page 3

IS THE END IN SIGHT?

AFFAIRS AT WAIHI HOW MANY MEN WILL RESUME WORK? ACTIVITY OF PICKETS. (BT TELEGBAPH— aFBCIAIi TO THE POST.) WAIHI, This Day. Any movement that there is among the strikers of the Waihi district is confined to Waihi itself. The free labourers at Waikino are now left severely alone, so far as annoying interference is concerned, and the police escort is no longer a matter of necessity, though, of course, an adequate force is at hand in case of any recurrence of the objectionable following-up of the men to convert them by calling them scabs and traitors. It is now no uncommon thing to see strike pickets and free labourers engaged in conversation discussing the industrial situation, each from his own point of view, but each bearing himself in a manner to which no exception cOuld be taken. Occasionally, however, there is a recurrence of a tendency to talk "at" the free labourers, as, for example, when the latter intentionally are compelled to overhear, one picket assuring another that "you never hear of a Chinaman scabbing on his fellows," but the most severe criticism that is, now passed on the conduct of the strike pickets is that | "some of them are inclined to be cheeky at times." The pickets, on the whole, carrjj themselves with a reasonable show of cheerfulness in carrying out their duties of keeping watch on the influx of free labourers at Waikino. "There is still," they will inforll you, "plenty of room in Massey's boarding-house," and again when conversation *lags : "These clothes of mine aie < getting pretty shabby, but the Johns will see that I get a new suit from the Government.'* RIGHTLY FREE LABOURERS. There are nqw^ about seventy free labourers at Waikino, and a start is being made with the overhaul of the battery plant. Yesterday the breaker was at work on some quartz, which it was found advisable to shift, to make room f oir a. new line that ie being put down. By Wednesday between 50 and 100 head of stamps will be working on« shift, thei'e being plenty of quarts in hand to keep the battery going for some ntontlm. Work at the quarry ,ie proceeding apace, getting out material for the foundations of the "new powerhouse for the Horahora electric transmission scheme, operations in connection with which provide employment for the majority of the men. THE NEW UNION. Word is expected hourly of the completion of the registration of the recently formed union of miners and batteryworkers, and when this is finally fixed up fully 50 miners now on strike will take the opportunity of joining the Arbitration Union. These men are the more restive of a large section which requires only to be shown an honourable way of severing connection with the Miners' Union, which otherwise has [ first claims on their loyalty. There are known 10 be some, contract parties * which are prepared, and even anxious, to get to work, and Wednesday week will see at least a good many make a start, notwithstanding any cotmfcerrm>ve the Federation of Labour may make. RESUMPTION OF WORK. The opinion is fairly general that the action of the Waihi Company in deciding to open the mine on Wednesday week must of necessity mean the end of the strike, as it, is contended strike pay cannot possibly go On when work is resumed, even partially, in the mine. It must be noted, however, that probably a majority of the rank and file of the Miners' Union, still about 530 strong, do not offer any opinion. They must, of necessity, take their lead from the Federation of Labour. MISSION OF PICKETS. . Yesterday a party of nine mounted pickets from the union proceeded apace to Cornes's bush with view to persuading timber workers there to refrain frotn getting out timber for the Waihi Company. Mr. Comes has a contract to cut mining timber for the company, but as it happened'there were-tmly three men working for him -yesteiday. The cavalcade of pickets, led by a striker, Charles Opie, who was prominent in the recent strike prosecutions, had only a wild goose chase for their pains. There is reason to believe, however, that Comes, who was in town yesterday, when the visitation was made to his employees, will not be 1 in* fluenced in the slightest by those who j are concerned with his affairs. ! ENGINE-DRIVERS READY FOR WORK. A meeting of the Engine-drivers' and Winders' Union was held on Sunday, when delegates from Huntly were present. Another meeting was held yesterday. All the men expect to go to work on Wednesday week, although, of course, there may not be employment for all just at first.