MINERS AND CONTRACTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13778, 17 June 1908, Page 8

MINERS AND CONTRACTS.

THE TROUBLE- AT WAIHI.

WHAT A STRIKE WOULD* MEAN

I'm; trouble over the contract system at Waihi ha.« now reached an interesting stage, the mineowners having declined the requests of the men for the institution of the co-operative contract system, and tinunion is now to consider the position brought about by the meeting on Satuiday night. Home rumours that the men might go out on ' strike ' have been circulated, hut this is not. considered probable, for numerous teasons, the first one being that only ,1 comparatively small section of the great body of men working at the mint* is interested in the contract system, and a. strike in one part lit the mine might throw the whole .system out of gear, and render mam- hundreds 'of other men idle, through no fault of their own. Moreover, it is pointed out, ,1 big section of the' workers opposes the demand made. Again, the Wailii Company pays its workers 8s 6d per day, while the contractors are paying 10s and lis per day, so that, in the case of a strike, which would require to.extend beyond the eontractors' men to be really a strike, workers at 8s M per day would lie asked to come out of work, and inflict hardship on hundreds of women and children, in order to secure larger payment for it comparatively smail body of men already receiving 10s toll* per day. In shaking at the meeting at Waihi on Saturday night, Mr. H. P. Barry, genera!: superintendent, put the'' position very rlcarly, in speaking of what a strike—if it eally was being thought, about—would neau to Waihi. He said, if Die trouble vats going to culminate, in a strike, then he wanted the men to understand the position, i.nd not complain afterwards that the terrible trouble of a strike had been forced upon them. A strike should not be possible unless the majority of the members of the union were in favour of it. and actually voted for it-. But if the majority would not, go to the trouble of recording their votes, then they bad only themselves to blame if the result of the poll was against their wishes. "If the union really calls a. strike," Mr. Barry went on to say, "we will not- endeavour to carry on short-handed. When the wages men 'go out, we shall simply assume that the majority wish to discontinue work, and we will suspend ail operations at the mine, for any attempt- to continue in a disorganised fashion is useless. As the available ore at the batteries becomes finished, we shall close {hern down, and. of course, the workers there must join the ranks of the- unemployed. This also applies to all the mechanics at Waihi, and at Waikiiid. engaged in construction work, for it must be obvious that while Ave are getting no bullion, the means to provide for the monthly pay-sheet will not be forthcoming. The timber-getters in the bush will be' affected.. The whole community must be ..affected by a strike. Even the borough must feel it, for without the returns from the companies gold duty mtnst cease as a source of revenue. . It is common public knowledge that the borough is already leaning heavily -on the bank, which leaves it with on'y limited means to carry on during a period of stress. Therefore, in a feu weeks of strike, the borough employees would also have to join the unemployed. Much as. wo would regret a. strike, from the companies' point of view, it is' really much more-important to the wageearners and inhabitants of the town that it should be avoided. For the company, it .would mean probably the suspension, of dividends, a matter serious enough to shareholders, but simply nothing as compared with the effect-of the reduction of income that many households would experience. It- is -bad enough to contemplate this; where men are concerned, but when it comes to women and children if must 'appeal to every sensible irvin that it requires very great expected benefits to compensate, for the loss and suii'ering indicted'by. a strike, which, once started, nobody knows; where it would end. ', * . i ■"' Kv-e-ii after a strike it- would be impossible to put all men back at work at once. ■! '!"!;,• firr.t thing would be ty, pump the mine,;! and that takes a long-time: 'As the water [•ev.i-itt'.-v!, contracts would be resumed, and I lb:.' ••risk would.be started one after an- j of'r..--r as the ore wii.s available. Thus] •.'.'!:..,.; might only be intended to be a tern- ] ?\..>. ■,-. : i-riko might become very much. ! more serious. There is a. section of the j union which does not. endorse the demands, | and ■>._:■• pissed a resolution asking the companies- to 'maintain the existing methods, and I can only hope that the I union, as a body, will be'guidcd by the advice of that section."

There was little inquiry for Wailii mine shares! at the Stock Exchange yesterday, in consequence of the present "trouble." and sales were effected at £9 3s 6d and £9 3s. 3d. closing with buvers at £9 2s 6d and sellers at £9 5s 6d. The .previous day they were done at- £9 5s and £9 -Is 3d, closing with buyers at £9 4s and sellers at £9 ,/S. ,