The Waihi Strike.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 72, 26 July 1912, Page 7

The Waihi Strike.

The Water Question. Tho tenth week of the struggle has Icon entered upon, and the workers aro as determined as ever to win on their Kwn terms. Two days' hard rain meant" considerable rise of water in the underground "hell holes." This water Question is one which vitally affects the mining companies, especially the Martha mine, notwithstanding leading articles, sub-leaders, interviews, and personal conversations to the contrary. Of course, viewed through tho moneymaking glasses of "those in the know" it may be anything but desirable for the shareholders (especially the small ones) to know the true state of the mine. Miners who know arc quite convinced that more than one Btope will never be entered again by -uman beings. It is with the greatest difficulty that the ground is held safe under normal conditions, and seeing that over two months have elapsed since any work was done the state of those portions of the workings may be easily understood. It does not follow that, because the miners are not working, the ground is not "working." Borough Council and the Band. The Borough Council has been the BCeno of another exhibition of righteous wrath and outraged patriotism (?) Several of the Waihi Federal Band members showed their patriotism to their class by meeting and welcoming home tho boys who preferred jail to being taught how to murder members of their class. Because of this, and tho fact that the band's instruments I wcro used in tho anti-murder demonstration, some of the City Fathers seI vercly censured the acting-conductor and secretary, and demanded their resignations! Just fancy the audacity of the disloyalists and disinherited and discontented in blowing "The Rod Flag" and "Onward, Friends of Freedom," out of such patriotic, such imperialistic instruments as belonged to the baud! Surely 'twas a sight to make even the gods weep! Was it any wonder that those good men and true in the Borough Chamber were shocked? Tho band, however, hold a meeting, and thereat it was decided that owing to members of the band drifting away from Waihi, and from other causes, to Call all'instruments in within a week. Waihi will now become a town without music, as far as the band is concerned. It is rumored that a largo consignment of disinfectants has been ordered by the Council in order to thoroughly fumigate and eradicate, if possible, any reference to "The Red Flag" in the brass instruments. Economic Class. The economic class conducted by Mr. J. B. King continues to bo well patronised, and all the students appear to be deeply interested in the subject. "The Road to Salvation." The Miners' Hall was well filled on Sunday evening, Ufch inst., when Comrades Parry, King and Smith delivered short addresses on "Tho Road to Salvation." Quito a number of questions were asked at the conclusion, and satisfactorily answered. Report of Conference Delegates. A mass meeting was held on Tuesday morning of last week, when, besides other business, the report from the delegates (\\. E. Parry anil 11. Kenned)') to the Federation Conference was considered. Owing to the absence of Mr. Parry from Waihi at an earlier stage, it was doomed inadvisable to hold tho meeting before, hence the reason of the report being somewhat belated. After a little discussion, tho report was adopted. An amendment adopting the report, but protesting against the remuneration to delegates being too high, was lost on a show of bands. Scab List. Considerable discussion took place over tho proposed scab list, the main point being as to where tho lino should bo drawn. A number of shift-bosses aro. engaged on various duties, such as lironien, watchmen, and other work foreign to their usual employment. Itwas suggested by the Strike Committee that all those engaged in working for the company at present bo blacklisted, shift-bosses to bo included if they have taken a striker's place. It was finally decided to leave the matter stand over until the next meeting, in order to receive fuller information.

Stray Strike Shots

It was mentioned at tho mooting vhai. tho scab Diners' Union is in a state of

Official Report from the Scene of Action.

rebellion, many of the drivers being full up of the attitude they have adopted.

Councillor Claude Hands told his fellow-unionists at a recent mass meeting that he was not going to allow the union to dictate what ho should do in the Council.

No mention has been made in the "Master's Voice" about the boycotting of tho union store in Waihi by tho merchants in Auckland; who refused to fulfil an order for provisions. . .

Two more anti-murderers (one. a member of the Waihi Workers' Union) have gone to Thames jail for seven days boeauso they believed in Christ's commandment, "Thou shalt not kill."

Sir Joseph Ward has adopted the "To hell with agreements" policy, but has somehow escaped the notice of the. daylics. Last year ho agreed that no more boys should bo jailed for broaches of the Murder Act, but he broke his agreement. Perhaps it paid him to. Labor Politician's Treachery—Mj\ Robertson on the Crill. At a recent union mooting in Waihi, Mr. W. E. Parry related the following nairativc: "While in Auckland recently I met Mr. Robertson, M.P. for Ota!;.. and had a conversation with bin. on Sunday evening in connection with' the Waihi and Reefton disputes, lie assured mo that tiho disputes wore fully in accordance with his ideas, and he recognised the justice of tho strike.

"I afterwards learned that Mr. Robertson had been interviewed by. a "Star" '.reporter on Saturday, and that a 'proof of his interview was submitted to him prior to publication of the paper. Now, this interview contained

a severe denunciation of the strike, as well as a castigation of tho Federation's tactics. Mr. Robertson, M.P.. with the most barefaced brazonnoss, had told mo that the strike was right, etc., and bad at tho same time an interview waiting to be published in (he capitalistic press denouncing tho strike!

"Subsequently, I mot this politician, this 'advocate of Labor,' and he proferred his band to mc, but I refused 1o take the hand of a betrayer of the working-class movement. applause.) I used some pretty strong language to him and told him he was a liar. (Hoar, hear.) Robertson stammered that 'the paper may have misrepresented him' or 'misconstrued .his remarks.' but I immediately stopped him and told him that it was no use talking that rot. 1 challenged him to moot mc at tho Opera House, and hurl the same statements at mo that he had made to tho press. (Hear, hoar.) Ho said ho 'couldn't do that,' and I replied that ho was too much of a worm to meet a man. "Messrs. Payne and Voiteh joined us prior to the conversation terminating, and Mr. Pay no told Robertson ho. bail no right to give vent to his feelings in the capitalistic press, the workers' bitterest enemy, and should have remained reticent on tho matter. (Loud cries of 'What was Payne after?')" Mr. Parry remarked, in answer to the interjections, that he always appreciated a man when he s[>oke fair, even if ho was his worst enemy. (Hoar. bear.) Those ''Labor loaders" were doing everything in their power to defeat the working-class. Mr. Parry's remarks wore loudly applauded by the meeting.