THE BROKEN HILL FIGHT

Maoriland Worker, Volume 11, Issue 475, 21 April 1920, Page 5

THE BROKEN HILL FIGHT

Heart-Stirring Appeal for

Oppressed Workers

[The following appeal has been issued by the Miners' Federation of Australia on behalf of the miners of Broken Hill.]

Wp are now in the twelfth_.U.2th) month of this titanic struggle with these mine-owners who are"drunk on the blood of the miners, they are known aa the Broken Hill Mining Companies. *' We have found it difficult to even provide bare food for our members for the past eleven months. The winters here are bitterly cold, and now we are faced with a long severely cold' winter; and after this long time on strike, each and.every one ot our '.members, is suffering from a short<>f necessary clothing. A great . •■• of our members have not suf-r.-lothing to conform with the :' decency. The children of , ....,' uKiiibers are rapidly becoming I bootless, and are without necessary warm clothing; as also are the wives of the men. But in spite of all our past suffering, and the outlook of the coming severe winter, we arc pleased to srfy that our solidarity i:; unimpaired. Our attitude "is backed up by the women folk of our members who through bitter experience, have been taught that we have been subjected to the most awful unnatural, and unhealthy conditions. Our women folk also recognise that "their children may be predisposed to lead poisoning (plumbismi if the previous inhuman mining conditions are not altered: This is the average infantile death rate for the past twelve years in the undermentioned places:—Melbourne 82.75; Sydney 75.5; Adelaide 72.83; Trans-Darling Division (Broken Hill) 105.583. We have attempted for thirty years to alter these murderous conditions. We, and our women folk have decided with dogged determination to make a drastic alteration in the working conditions of the Broken Hiir- hell-holes falsely named mines. We. hs a union, have supported every body o[ unionists in Australia, who have fought Lo improve their conditions; we have also Gent financial assistance to New Zealand and England. We appeal to you as human beings, to financially assist us in this great fjtrugglc for our lives and health; also the health of our chilc':':en. and the future generation. For nearly twelve mmithK, wo have fought, and lived in a stage of Keimstarvation in our stnigglv against the Broken Hill .Mining Companies. The longer we continue this struggle for life and better health, the harder it is to get a sufficiency to keep us from starvation. Our great difficulty just at present in keeping the members of the A.M.A. in food, is the rising prices in necessary commodities, which are rising higher and higher every week. We will show the comparative prices of the principal commodities, since we began this long and bitter struggle: — At the beginning of this struggle, May, 191!), the prices of the following were: Tea, per 11) 1/Bread, 2 lh loaf :-!Jd Sugar, per lb 3id .Jam, per tin Oil Flour. 251b bag .'!,'!> Matches. pi»v <\<ri fid Soap, per bar lid Tho prices of tho.se commodities today. .Miin.-h !f\ .UW>, are: Tea, per lb '■'■[ Bread, 2 lb. loaf UU\ Sugar, per lb Id Jam. pei - lin J/J Flour. 25 lb hag . r j/."! Matches, per doz Sd Soap, per bar 1/4 It will be understood that we buy our goods wholesale and retail them to our members oiyselves at cost price. The price of meat in Broken Hill is very high. Fore-quarter is 7d per lb; leg 10d; Chops lid. During this struggle the members of the A.M.A. have had whole months when money has bei?n short, without meat of any kind. During these periods our sole diot has been potatoes, onions, jam, flour, and tea, We appeal to you as fellow unionists. We appeal lo you as fellow human beings to assist us to improve our menu. We are lighting for a six hour-day, and better working conditions. We can prove that the Broken Hill Mines are the worst in Australia if not in the world. Thousands of miners in Broken Hill are suffering from leadpoisoning (plumbisin) and .Minors' Phthisis (miners' consumption) as the result of working in the Broken Hill Mines for only a few years. Wo have no apology to offer for our actions. We say emphatically that we are out on strike for the right, to live our allotted span. We claim that this industry kills our members in what should be t.hoir prime of life. Every jwinor who goes in tho Broken Hill Mines lo work for any length of time, is sentenced to early ill-health and a premature death. Again we appeal to you for assistance to continue this great struggle for life and health.

We have ofton expressed our opinion ahouf Lloyd George and I he danger his self-confidence, wobbling superficiality, and ignorance have been and are to the nation. But the present Cabinet comprises a still more dangerous political intriguer, Winston Churchill has been a positively fatal man to this country. Hβ has not the slightest, regard for any human life but his own, and cacriflees men by tho tens of thouand to hla own personal aggrandisement, with less scruple that a- Hottentot, King of Dahomey. Antwerp, , Gallipoli, Archangel are only three of his achieve-ments-in this. line. They wore all "ipßttlnUte gambloe," Entered upon, xt Hie expanse of us common peoplo and our r<?!*tioTiF, in order to further Churchill's ruthless" political ambitions.—Justice.

Dear Henry,—There ia a "very respectable paper published in Christchurch, called the "Sun." The gentleman who is known as "we, ,, is cms of those who dislike the name "Labor" and sometimes he is "very severe in his remarks. But no one takr><; him seriously; they know he occupies a very peculiar position, and whilst he writes the most of the editorials lie is not always .responsible for them. He is somewhat biased in his judgment when it comes to dealing with social matters. Recently an article appeared about the Prince's Glad Eye, or the etiquette of dancing. . Of course the article was what is termed a "lifted article." That is it was lifted from another paper. But in .this article it went on to tell exactly how the "subjects" or objects should approach the Prince when he arrives. I can quite understand the Editor not writing an original article, because he has not had much experience with Royalty. As you know, Henry, I have been in close touch wilh Kings and Queen:;, and I can instruct the Dubb family how to proceed. In the article I have referred to above ii. starts by saying "The important fact about the Prince ft, he i« fond of dancing—as a young man who is x«out to enjoy himself should be."

Now what these Princes most desire and require is to sec the natives in their native or natural slate, When the M.P.'s and others arrived at Raratonga, all the natives dressed in flowers -and sweet smiles. They banged on drums and danced and all the visitors went away with the idea that that was the way the natives usually carried on. Incidently, Henry, I went lo a picture show whilst on that tour, and I saw some splen.did pictures of white ladies and gentlemen, kissing and cuddling one another, and of course the natives naturally think that that is; the way tho white folk pass their time in Hie big citirs. Well now, the Prince know;; -that he is coming lo a democratic country. What you mean by democratic is that Jack is an good as his master, and better too. So that if tho young Prince finds that this country is just. Britain written small, he will go back in disgust.

1 have just boon reading a very nice book whore tho> King disguises him trolf us an hoiWsr. working man and pets amougut Hit. , working class and says "have one with me,' , and .so on. Finally when Hi" people discover he i.s tlioir King, they are no delighted that they raisi- his Hilary. New I am pure our Pnneo would ho delighted to be received in a democratic manner. Why, he would go hack and tell his Dad'that we were a most delightful crowd. So that's where I differ from the article in the "Sun."' For instance it says if the Prince spots the tart he wants to dance with, he sends his A.D.'C. to tell her. Then she must come along and curtsey, but keep "mum" unless she is asked a direct question. Come off, come off, Henry. If you take Henrietta to the hop— it's only thirty-bob—don't let her be fooled by any A.D.C. The woniejj in I his country have had tho vote for years. They are now entitled to he sent to Parliament. They may even be sent lo I lie Cold Couutry as Agent General. The idea, of asking our women to keep silent! Why it's cruel. And I want. (0 say here and now, Iho Prime wont like you if you are silent. Just treat him Hie same way as you would mi , . Say to him. in a democratii. , manner, "Well Ted. how did you onjoy your trip? How's mother and Father? ,, Show him you take sonic interest, in his family. 1 am sure lie will like it. During the recent elections an old gentleman who has several stakes in the country cast a doubt on my loyalty. Says lie, "Sir, why wont you sing God sa,ve the King?" "Well, said I, "I am an awful singer." "Quibble, quibble," yelled my fatted friend. "Not a, bit of it," said I. "There is no quibble about it and as a guarantee of good faith I will strike a bargain with you. You sing the second verse first and I will sing (he first yerse second." I had him. he didn't know tho second verse. And there was no one else present; who did.

Now I am perfectly satisfied, from what I have heard Doctor Thacker .say, that Ted is the greatest prince on earth. Haven't I seen pictures of liim sitting on horseback shaking hands with ordinary common working men? It's all very well" for the majors and councillors and other great men like that to talk, what' Uie Prince wants is to. see the people in their natural state. It has been seriously suggested that, tho Christchurch Socialists should ask tho Priuce to speak for them on the Sunday night ho is in their city. The only tiling that will prevent this is that Brother Chapolo is booked to speak on the subject of "New Zealand as a Republic," ami it wouldn't be nice to have a wrnr.gle over this question. Personally I always believe there are two sides to all questions. I even believe there are two Bides to tho question of 'Parliamentary action. Of course, I admit I aui on the right, side, but that doesn t alter the question. I own there is room for a difference of opinion </n the question of whether Kings and Queens serve any useful purpose. But 1 shouldn't have the slightest dcubt about it 111 had the job.

So, Henry, doiil get flurried w'aon tho boy conies along. Just have n day off, and line the streets and che -r. Cheering is very tilling, and if the storekeeper dares to growl at the ond of tho week when, you cannot pay ihe account, call him n Bolshevik. Tell him nny rtmn who wouldn't lose a day's pay to cheer a Priuce ouglit to. be exported: Of course, Editors and M.P.'b and Mayors don't get Iheh* wages stopped, but why should they? l>. Is possible that the Prince will bring out. n few Loi'd MayoreuUis and all that sort of. thing, in his p-w-est. At least i know one Mayor who will be greatly disappointed If he doesn't, and think of the dinners and banquets and things, Henry, ttteser poor poypie will have to "get away villi b. -nir nairo. I hope,the Princo will luv.<: a pood "time. He deeerves it. Ho lr. a Democratic Prince, I have heard Doctor Tbae&er say co.

AR4^eu^*Kejaiy^^oß! , t,,you be-.cary tbe way, yo\i

•would mes (only dqa*t try to borrow jnotteyj.ainfl yeu will find the Prince tiaii'be delated, The** te-»o dltfere&GO a iPrino© .and a Patiner whea they are hi the battt, It's all clethea, Henry s and our Prince is a, decent ytiunir* ifellflcw- .it' ■you only^tre^t