WAIHI STRIKE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 118, 16 May 1912, Page 5

WAIHI STRIKE.

BOROUGH COUNCIL IN DIF-,

MCULTIES

ALL CREDIT REFUSED

Cfkesb association. I

WAIHI, May 15

Ttie toAvn is quiet. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday afternoon to consider the Borough's position regarding- the stiike. The Mayor said that if the strike continued he did not see how the Council could cany on in the matter of ways and moaus. 'The Town Clerk said that he. understood that the bank was willing to finance the sanitary and gas services if reduced to the barest necessities. The general opinion of the Councillors was that the strike would, last some time. It was decided chat ail maintenance and formation hands be discharged, including the foreman; that all the gasworks hands, except those absolutely neoessary, he discharged ; that all carters, stoneworkers, aud co-operative contractors be put ofl."; the sanitary' service to be retained; and also that the library be ex-snip t. It was decided that the street lamps bt put out at 11 p.m. to conserve tne gas. It is reported that tho warehouses ha,ve. decided.to restrict the credit of the Waihi tradesmen, and the latter have decided to demand cash over the counter for all goods. . It is under.stood that the matter of the strike is now • practically in the ha,T»ds of the Federation of Labor. It is quite on the tapis that .all the Unions under the Federation will be' implicated. As the Borough Council cannot continue its payments to the hospital an appeal will be made to the Government for help. The hospital is now full. ' ' The general opinion is that the strike will continue for isom© time. Tho Union is. preventing the carriage of material to both mines and batteries. The pickets are prevailing on the carters to stop work. ; The Grand Junction Company has machmeiy at the station, but-is unal>le to remove Tk ;''.•'■• •:..:.. :!" , \ Tlie strike continues to be conducted'in an orderlyvmanner. Frequent 'meetings of the Union officials are being-held. .... .... ( . ' \'{'