THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 16 May 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

THE TOAVN AT A STANDSTILL. A SERIOUS POSITION. BY TELECEAI-H—PK.EBB ASSOCIATION. AVAIHI, May 15. The town is quiet. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday afternoon to consider the borough's position with regard to the strike. The Mayor said that if the strike continued lie did not see how the Council could carry on in the matter of ways and means. The town clerk said that he understood the bank was willing to finance the sanitary and gas services if they were reduced to the barest necessities. The general opinion of councillors was that the strike would last some time. It was decided that all maintenance ] and formation hands be discharged, including the foreman and all the gasworks hands, except those absolutely j necessary. All carters, stoneworkers, and co-operative contractors are.- also to be put off. The sanitary service is tc be retained and also the library. It was decided that the street lamps should le put out at 11 p.m., to conserve the gas , supply. It was reported that the warehouses had decided to restrict the credit of -AVaihi tradesmen, and the latter will demand cash over the counter for all goods. It is understood that the matter of the strike is now practically in the hands of 'the Federation of Labor. It is quite on the tapis that all the unions under the Federation will be implicated. As the borough cannot continue its payments to the hospital, an appeal will be made to the Government for help. The hospital is full. The union is preventing the carriage of material to both the mines and the batteries. Pickets are prevailing on the starters to stop work. The Grand Junction Mine Company has its machinery at the station, but is unable to remove it. The strike continues to be conducted in an orderly manner. Frequent meetings of the union officials are being held.