THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15935, 22 May 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

—<>- —. THE POSITION AT WAIHI. NO MATERIAL'DEVELOPMENT. [From: Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, May 21. ' Waihi is particularly deserted looking to-day, there being less than usual to attract the miners or unionists to the vicinity of the Union Hall. The flag on -the Hall is floating at half-mast, owing to the death of-a unionist, who died in the hospital yesterday, _ from some, internal trouble after a fortnight’s illness. The funeral is expected to be phenomenally large. All other arrangements for the afternoon have been postponed. . The Union has delivered an official announcement expressing satisfaction with the hospital superintendent’s action in refusing admittance to a' caso mentioned recently, as it was admittedly one which could stand over a few weeks. The committee also announced that the doctor was perfectly satisfied with the Union’s explanation regarding the coal supply for the hospital. GROCERS AND THE STRIKE COMMITTEE. Reports from various customers have come to the ears of Waihi grocers to the effect that they are being bitterly and unfairly criticised by the Strike Committee regarding the stoppage of credit. A number of grocers waited as a deputation on ■ the Strike Committee this morning, explaining their absolute financial inability to give credit when credit to grocers themselves had been stopped by the wholesale merchants. The Strike Committee is considering the position and will officially announce later the attitude to be followed. ASSISTANCE FOR THE WINDERS. The sum of £250 has been collected in Auckland as a contribution towards the fighting fund of the Engine-drivers’ and Winders’ Union at Waihi. A first instalment of £4O was . forwarded to Archdeacon Brodie on Friday last to pass on to the workers of this Union, and by the. end of this week it is expected that the winders’ fighting fund will be augmented to ’ the. extent of £SOO. : V r . ■ : BOROUGH RETRENCHMENT. A special meeting of the Waihi Borough Council-was held last evening to consider the question of the Mayor’s honorarium and the position of the borough engineer in the face of the present crisis and retrenchment scheme. The matter of honorarinm was considered first. . : ' - • Mr Irwin (chairman) spoke strongly in favour of a proposal to fix the amount at £IOO as heretofore, urging that if tho Mayor’s honorarium was reduced to £SO tho Mayor would be financially embarrassed. Such an act, ho asserted, would be dastardly and scandalous. A smart'passage of arms ensued between the chairman and Councillors Saunders and Potter, the former asserting that the borough was not a charitable institution., Councillor Saunders moved, as an amendment, that the Mayor’s honorarium should be fixed at £SO. He said that all the borough workmen had been discharged and it was not fair to discuss the Mayor’s private affairs. The amendment was carried by seven votes to two. -,j . ■ ■; The Mayor said he did not expect more in face of the crisis. Councillor Potter moved “That notice be given to the engineer terminating his engagement.” He considered, that there were not sufficient works in sight to justify the engagement of an engineer, nor in view ot the present crisis would there be for tho next twelve months. All that was to _be done could easily be carried, out-under the supervision of a competent- foreman. • '

Councillor Saunders seconded the motion. Ho urged that sentiment should be mit on one side and that the Council should recognise the obvious tact that thb services of an engineer weie not required in Waihi. Councillor Brown advocated reduction of the engineer’s salary ami moved as an amendment V That the engineer bo retained at half his present salary till the present crisis is over.” '(. ' Councillor Corringham advocated, that the engineer should be asked to stand down with the borough workmen during the strike. Councillor Brown’s amendment was carried by five votes to four. A further amendment was moved “That the engineer be asked to tender his resignation in view of the present crisis, ■ and that when . the Council is in a position to do so, fresh applications be called for the position if necessary, Mr M’Arthur to have first refusal.

This amendment was put as a motion and was carried l unanimously. The Strike Committee has sent a ■letter to the Borough Council urging that the town clerk’s services should bo dispensed with. The committee claims that this can be done easily because the clerk had stated recently that his assistant could safely be left in charge of the office. ' ' , ‘ THE OPPOSING PETITION. , Mr T. Cain, secretary of the Auckland Engine-drivers’ Association, when seen this afternoon with reference to the objection which his ; Union . had lodged against the registration of the new Drivers and Firemen’s Union at Waihi, said the position was a perfectly simplo one. Section 11 of tho 'lndustrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act aimed at the prevention of a multiplication of unions in one .industry in one district. His Union felt that there was no need.whatever for the formation of another Union at Waihi, and ■ the Waihi engine-drivers would ho just- as well served by coming into the Auckland Union, which was registered under tho Arbitration Act and worked under an award. It was true that the Waihi men desired to have firemen incorporated in their Union, as was the case with most other unions of tho kind in New Zealand, hut the inclusion of firemen had been a subject on which the Auckland Union had been deliberating since April last. Ballot papers were now out-dealing with this very subject and would be returnable by May 30. “ The Waihi engine-drivers were members of ;our Union till 1904, when they seceded to join tho Waihi Miners’ Union,” said Mr Cain. “.Now they want to come back and work under the Act we feel justified in asking that clause 11 of the Act should bo observed and only one union be allowed to operate in the Auckland district.”

THE DEPRESSION IN WAIHI. [Per Press- Association.] ‘ \ WAIHI, May 21. As a result of the depression in the borough finances, brought about by the strike, the Borough Council, at a special meeting last night, decided to reduce the Mayor’s honorarium, .from £l5O to £SO, and asked the engineer to resign, he to have tho first refusal of a fresn appointment if necessary.

PRESS COMMENT. \ [Fboji Our Correspondent.] • AUCKLAND, MAY 21

The “New Zealand''Herald,” commenting editorially on the Waihi strike says The public will watch with keen interest the attitude of the Department of Labour townrds the workers who. are seeking the protection of the Act and proposing to take advantage of the law established for the peaceful and equitable adjustment of industrial disputes. If there is one. thing certain it is that every assistance should be . given by a loyal and constitutional Government to bodies of workmen who are endeavouring to uphold the law and to resist in-' - dustrial influences which nrp reactionary and.anarchical in aims and methods. This view-of the duty of the Government may not be. held for the moment by the majority of tbo members of,the! Waihi Miners’ "Union, but it is undoubtedly held by an overwhelming majority of "the people of New Zealand, and in the ultimate it will be adopted by all thoughtful and moderate members of unions which have been carried by Federation propaganda, for it' .must bo manifest to their deliberate judgment that the dominion is hot to he terrorised by any syndicalist threats, and that in reality the workmen are mere interested than others in the equitable adjustment of industrial differences and in the unbroken maintenance of industrial agreements. [Per Press Association.] WAIHI, May 21. Since the commencement of' the strike of Waihi 'miners last Monday week a feature has been the orderly behaviour of the men. There are no fresh developments. A. monster procession is to take place in the main street to-morrow afternoon, and a sports meeting will bo held later.