STRIKE AT WAIHI

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 127, 14 May 1912, Page 6

STRIKE AT WAIHI

TWO THOUSAND MEN DOWN TOOLS AT THE DICTATES OF THEIR UNION.* [PER PBEBB , Waihi, May ; 1. Yesterday the air was thick with rumours anent the impending trouble between the Miners’ Union and the local mining companies o’er the severance of the engine-drivers from the union and the formation of a separate union under the Arbitration Act. The Miners’ Union unsuccessfully tried to induce the enginedrivers to disband the new union. The result was that the 4 o’clock shift yesterday afternoon did not go to work. The miners held a meeting last night, and resolved not to return to work till the engine-drivers rejoin the Miners’ Union. Practically all work has ceased at the mines and batteries this morning, and the horses have been brought to the surface.

The strike will affect about 2( 00 men and 3000 of their dependents.

The borough revenue de'ptfn’ds almost entirely on the duty on gold, and this will cease during the strike. The gas works, sanitary hospital, waterworks, and matters generally depend entirely on this revenue.

The mine pumps will be stopped this morning, and this will add to the seriousness of the position. So far as can be ascertained, beth sides are firm.

MINE OFFICIALS INTERVIEWED.

Auckland, May 14,

Mr. Rhodes, the Waihi Company’s mining representative and Mr. Barry, mine superintendent, when interviewed, said the trouble was between the miners’ union and the enginedrivers, and not with the companies. The miners’ union declined to work unless the company insisted on the engineers joining the miners’ union, which was not within ~the powers of the companies. Even if the.miners were prepared to-resume work now the companies could do nothing, as the whole question had been' submitted to the N.Z. Gold Miners’ Association. The position ■applied equally to all gold mines in the Dominion.