RUNANGA’S EARLY DAYS

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1937, Page 7

RUNANGA’S EARLY DAYS

(By "Old Timer.”) The opening of the new Miners’ Hall at Runanga brings back to memory many stirring times of thirty years ago, and it seems to me it is fitting now to recount some of the things that took place in the early days, even before the Miners’ Hall was dreamt of. Of course, one should mention the opening of the nail, which took place on Friday, December 4th., 1908. It took a special train to bring the people from Greymouth and other districts, and when they arrived at Runanga, they were met by our famous Band, with Tommy Isherwood as, Bandmaster. Mr. John Glover, now Manager of “The Standard," traced the progress of the hall and district, and paid a high, tribute to Bob Semple, President of the Union, on whom, John told us, most of the burden of the work had fallen. He then presented Bob with a gold key to open the door. Bob delivered one of his exceptionally forceful speeches, the trend of which was the betterment of the conditions of his fellowmen. Some eight hundred sat down to a well laden table, and our opening went on with song and story. Matt Lauder, brother of Sir Harry, sang “The Miner,” and the toast of the Miners’ Union was proposed by Mr. Fry, and responded to by Bob Semple, Jack Rostron and J. Southward. Then Jimmy Stevenson gave one of his characteristic songs. Jimmy was well known as an entertainer at that time, and was vociferously encored. Jack Rostron proposed the'toast of the contractor. Mr. W. Murray, and Joe Pattinson proposed the toast of “International Con-

solidated Labour.” Paddy Webb,. Fry, Jackson, and old Geordie Newton] responded. Geordie, who must have been close on eighty years of age, was one of the finest types of Labour men New Zealand ever knew. Harry Coppersmith proposed the toast of “The Parliament of New Zealand,” and Sir Arthur Guinness and Mr. Jas. Kerr responded. Jimmy Neilson proposed “The Mining Industry,” and Messrs Bishop and Coultard responded. That memorable gathering was brought to a close by cheers for the President. Bob Semple. So much for the opening of the hall.. Previous to the building of the hall the State Miners’ meetings were held in the Druids’ Hall, Dunollie, and committee. meetings in the Stamp Office close to the present State Mine Anyone going to meetings in those days at night time was equipped with a pair of water tight boots and a pit lamp. Roads and pavements were unknown, and the wayfarer had generally to walk along a tram line and balance on a four by two tram rail. If h<£ stepped off, he generally went up to the knees in mud and slush. Still many stirring meetings were held in the Druids’ Hall. It was there Bob Semple, Frank Hudson, Paddy Webb, S. Fry, Tom Mann, J. Glover, J. Southward, Paddy Hickey, Harry Coppersmith, and a few score others helped to lay the foundation of the present Labour Government. Yet the hail was unsuitable, and with four hundred members in the Union, and Bob Semple as President, the miners soon decided to build a hall of their own. One would not recognise the Runanga of to-day compared with what it was at that time. There were few buildings, and the bush winch of the State

Mine Sawmill had been working in, the main streets of the town. Con«| sequently, the clearing of a section on which to build the. hall was not a small jot). This work was done by ‘‘working bees,” everyone rolled up and lent a hand, and the site- was soon ready for the carpenters, Mr. G. Millar, Engineer of the State Mines, was asked to draw up plans! and specifications for the building and' supervise the work. He kindly consented, and the credit must be given him of designing the celebrated Miners' Hall recently destroyed by tireWhen the hall was built, the miners set about paying for it, and a levy on each miner was struck, and I am perfectly sure no hall was ever paid for so quickly. Now, with a hall to help them, the miners set about educating the rest of the world' to Labour and

Socialism. Meetings were held every Sunday night. These were mostly addressed by Bob Semple, Paddy Webb, Pat Hickey, Frank Hudson, John Glover, Tim Armstrong, or any other speaker that might happen to come along. Now and then the youths were tried out. Jack McTaggart, Bob McTaggart, J. Duggan and R. J. Wearn would give it a go. The ladies also helped. The late Mrs. McTaggart delivered many speecnes. Perhaps the most enjoyable of our activities was the time when we decided to run a picture show to help with our finance. We did not aspire to electricity, and the humble lime light had to suffice. Our operator, Billie Whitesmith, put his heart and soul into the business of producing good pictures, but, what with an old breakdown machine, and having to produce his own gas, we could not say the pictures were a success. The operator did his best to get' the programme off, and kept turning the handled—whether the picture was on the ceiling or the heads of the audience, or half way on each! Runanga picture “fans” in those days developed jerky necks and squinty eyes from trying to watch those pictures. Still we made profits, and from the roars of laughter that would emanate from the hall when the pictures were on, I guess they were enjoyable. Then we sent out apostles to convert neighbouring towns. Our speakers would invade Greymouth every Saturday night and hold forth from the railway embankment at Tainui Street. At times we sent a team to Blackball or other towns in the district. Whenever possible, a speaker from outside was brought in. Scott. Bennet, Tom Mann, Freddie Way, and “Redheaded” Fitzgerald were listened to attentively. We took ourselves

Back Row: Miss Davis, Mrs Purnell, Mrs Little, Mrs He ward Mrs . Jackson Mrs Millar, Mrs Beadsmore, Mrs J. Glover. 2nd Row: Mrs G Lemon, Mrs J. Allen, Mrs Elliot, Mrs A. Naisbett and Mrs Semple (sitting).

seriously in those days, and incidentally the influence of Runanga was soon felt in the industrial and political world all over New Zealand. When the first Miners’ Federation was formed, Paddy Webb and Bob Semple were President and Secretary respectively, and later on when that organisation turned into the Federation of Labour, the same two men were placed at the head of affairs. Then- came the Waihi Strike, on which the Federation spent some £40,000 in an endeavour to secure justice for the men. A ten per cent, levy was struck on all Miners’ Union in New Zealand, and incidentally many other Trade Unions as well, and this levy was paid to a man. With the failure of the Waihi Strike, the State Miners saw the need for a larger organisation, and a conference was called of all unions in New Zealand for the purpose of forming a United Federation of Labour. This was finally launched in July, 1913. The Employers’ Federation w.ere wide awake, and forced different sections of the trade unions out on strike. In less than two weeks, almost every trade unionist in New Zealand had downed tools, and after sixteen weeks’ fighting, the United Federation of Labour was defeated. This defeat, brought home to the miners the necessity for political action, which, to some extent, had been kept in the background previously. Paddy Webb had been elected to Parliament with the founding of the United Federation of Labour, and the late Jimmy McCombs was elected for Lyttelton while the 1913 strike was in progress. To these two men should be given the credit of being the pioneers of the present Government. While all this was going on, the Tory section of

New Zealand viewed “Red” Runanga, as it was called, with very unfriendly eyes. Qne Tory member held that the State Mines were nothing less than a breeding ground for Socialists, and should be closed down, but most of them considered we were too few in number to be worth much consideration. > . Looking back on the early days of Runanga, one regrets the passing of many who put weight into the Movement when it was needed. One by one, many of the old timers have ' dropped out, and sought their last resting place, but the work and good they did bore fruit, and the pi esent generation have much to thank them for. We can say now it was all worth while, and no matter how hard the road and how difficult the task ahead, it was tackled with enthusiasm and

energy. Probably when, the history, of the Labour Movement comes to bej written, the work of scores of pio-| neers from Runanga will be placed in the forefront of that history. It was| tnrough them that the first rcally| effective industrial organisation was planned, and the first definite political movement. It was through them the’Labour Weekly, the “Maonland Worker" was started, and by the way the first Labour daily, the "Grey River Argus,” was launched. Time may take these sterling men from us, but their works will live after them.