The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 3168, 8 July 1892, Page 2

The Star.

THE WEEK.

Beoken Hill presents an ugly aspect just now. It is scarcely two years since there waß a very severe tussle between mine owners and working miners. The miners were not at that time so well organized as now. Tet the strike was soon ended. It was hot while it lasted and the mine managers gave way to most of the demands of the men. This was not so much a matter of wages, because a scale for most kinds of labor had been agreed upon in an earlier struggle. It was the gradual encroachment by the under-ground and other bosses, on what, according to mutual agreement, had been settled as fair methods of working the various departments of labor, which the men unitedly resented. There are too many special sets of workers connected with the production of silver to fully describe in the short space at disposal. It is sufficient to say that the miners form the largest body and were from the first the best organized section at Broken Hill. Surface men (and different grades at that), furnace tenders, carpenters, engineers, and fitters — all are numerous. After much friction between these distinct classes of workmen, a solution was found in allowing each to have its own particular rules and regulations. This gave them the right to regulate their own internal affairs and finances. Xet each separate body, could not of itself make a strike or endanger by hasty action the harmony existing among the other bodies of workmen and the mine owners. Each such body had its scale of wages and working regulations. Grievances, which could not be adjusted by the body affected, had to be brought under the consideration of a general council, on which were representatives of all interests. The general council had power to decide

41 the course of action and interview owners, the inclination always being to settle amicably — give way as far] as would be safe for the interests of the large body of workers on the field, Borne eight to twelve thousand men. The Propriety mine alone is said to employ 4000 in all departments. Thebe were points on which the men would not back down. They objected to contract work in the underground workings. Slumming or jeiry-work underground, the men have always argued, would never do. The limbs and lives of too numerous a body were concerned to allow any trifling in this respect. They look uwn contract work as a premium to -!i&honesty, and as certain to be accompanied by defective precautionary measures. Under the stringent regulations of the Mines Act serious accidents occur, and too often such accidents, though rarely sheeted home, have had their origin in defective supervision bjr the bosses, and lack of precauti.o/UHS^ timbering and methods of taking out,the ore. Since the Proprietary Mine has gone in for open work or quarrying,' contracts have been let. This was a new and unlooked-for class of work which th« miners had never reckoned for, and though strong objections were made and the greatest dissatisfaction existed among the organised miners, the^ were not preparecys§iSgbt. Broker Hill has had terrible experiens|£ during its short existence as a silvjjff • mining country/ There have bn several big strikes, though nothfljl in numbers like that now threatenife It has had great fires. During l6i summer it had a water famine, what caused disaster and death, particulafb in the ranks of the lowest grade oi labor. Every changing season alsc sees deadly visitations of various forms of disease, chiefly fever. A1 the best of times the surrounding country is little else than a des9rt and it is not uncommon for mer travelling to and from the up-country stations to be found dead by tht wayside. Died from thirst, for it v a waterless region. This leaves oui of the reckoning what are technical!) known as "creeps" in the mines — wholesale subsidence of acres froni £ few to many feet, and which might ai any time suddenly entomb hundreds of* workers. TMs occurs under the Upst skilled which mone^ lle procure. What would be tht Palt under contract working cai ily be imagined. Men who can face these condition! in a semi-torrid region must h|v( pluck and stamina. Too many Mr< quite reckless of life, and as a com munity Broken Hill includes un desirables from every quarter of thi world, There are also as fine a clasi of workmen, as can anywhere b< found. These become the leaden and organisers of their respectivi trades. But, however strenuoui their efforts may be to regulate thi action of this numerous physical!] Dowerfal and unthinking mass o humanity to calm unity of action there are occasions when all restraint: are likely to be broken. Th< determination of the Associated Mini owners to stope ore by contract ii jj u s(i r flf B Su l ?Er occasion. The mci were held under so long as con traeting was confined to the nev method of open work or quarrying a the big mine ; but now that con tracHng is to be applied to stopku ore generally, there is engenderec what looks very much like a rebellioi of workers against mine owners. Th< probabilities are it will be a terriblt conflict. " Shop keepers refuse tc sell except for cash. Further out rages in the direction of destroying goods for the mine-owners are re ported. Mine managers have beer warned to leave the place. Strong bodies of armed constables have beer cent to the scene of the strike." Thf whole affair looks ugly. Mine-owners have plenty reason tc seek for a fairer method of underground working. This is well enough known and recognised by the better class of miners The nature of the work below, in drives, where but two and three men can work together at one time — the scene of operations often being far removed from the eye of any overseer, is a temptation which unscrupulous men cannot well resist. They just do as little as possible: appoint one as watcher for the chance-coming of any of the bosses, and sleep or idle away hours that should be devoted to work. That ia the obstacle to higher dividends which mine-owners have always felt they could only overcome by contract labor. It would now appear that they feel themselves strong enough to insist on the acceptance by the men of freedom of contract in engaging men in future. That is the trouble. The Home elections are being fought with an earnestness not previously known in the past. Not but what rougher methods have been known in years gone by. Bat there is fuller polling, thus indicating- a wider interest in results. Very full particulars have been cabled as to the elected and those who have been dropped, bub when reduced to actual numbers these do not. amount to much. Wednesday totals were — Liberals, 42 ; Tories, 62 ; Unionists, 8. Quite too soon for the Times to forecast reliably. Then elections will Bure to have been arranged to make the best shows early for the Government, and also with a view to affording a second chance elsewhere for prominent men defeated. The regrettable feature ie the violence. Whatever they may be worth, the following are the latest expressions of opinion: — "The opponents of the Labor Party as a rule have been severely beaten. The Times considers that the success of the Liberals in the borough elections is no manifestation of their ability to sweep the counties. The Daily News thinks the Home Hulers have made a good beginning." Another week will see the end of it In New Zealand the repair of the broken three-core cable ia no small achievement. When honors were heaped on unassuming Mr, Lemon by American scientists for the effective

aid he rendered to the transit of Venus party, the honors conferred ltnd the eulogiums which accompanied the honors, were treated very much as mere compliments — a good joke — bat few recognizing that the practical minded electrician and astronomical helper had creditabh earned the title. Dr. Lemon has given further proof of scientific ability and confidence in his own resources far above the common. "When the cables both gave out it was a grave misfortune for the colony. But the event had not been unforseen by Dr. Lemon, 110 quickly calculated the time and cost of getting into New Zealand waters the cable-repairing steamer, tht>n in the China Seas. Three months, £6000. He calculated he could effect repairs in a shorter time and at about the same cost, if not cheaper, but with the advantage, within that cost, of always having at hand .conveniences to meet similar emergencies. That led to the purchase of the " Terranora," her subsequent fitting up with cablelifting gear, and, as recorded this week, a new length of cable spliced on to the ruptured end fished up from the "sea. The job successfully completed, and communication by the three-core cable restored between North and South Islands. Another feather in the doctor's cap. At an interview during the examination of the Terranora, after her arrival in Wellington, Dr. Lemon replied to a question : " I always said I was prepared for the job, but I never courted it." Result success. This Droves he

had neither over-estimated his ability or resources, and he has completely broken down the monopoly so long held by the cable repairing steamer.