THE MINING CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15003, 27 May 1912, Page 8

THE MINING CRISIS.

UNREST AT WAIHI.

FEDERATION'S DELAY. MEN WAITING IN SUSPENSE. DISCONTENT GROWING. A MASS MEETING HELD [BY TET,T!CR.VFH—SPECIAL COIIHBSPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday. To the surprise of the strikers, who attended Saturday's mass meeting in force, no information wa3 received from the New Zealand Labour Federation relative to its attitude towards the dispute, and the absence of news formed one of the principal topics for discussion. As the meeting was held in camera, and members were forbidden to give details of the proceedings to the press, it is impossible to say what actually transpired, but from a reliable sourco it was gathered that the long silenc© of the federation is accentuating the discontent and unrest among the men, and that some of those present expressed disappointment at the delay of the delegates in dealing with tho matter.

The chairman (Mr. W. McLennan, vicepresident of the union), when questioned, gave it as his opinion that two or three days woidd probably elapse before anything definite relating to the strike would come from Wellington, and added that the only communications so far received were those sent by Messrs. Parry and Glover, urging the members of the union to remain loyal, pending consideration of the position by the federation.

The prolonged absence of information from headquarters is variously interpreted, but there is a growing feeling that the organisation is not prepared for a general strike at present, and would prefer to move in the direction of a settlement of the crisis if possible. It was decided at yesterday's meeting that none of the members should leave the district without permission of the Strike Committee, pending definite word from the federation in regard to the dispute, and that no opposition be offered to the Borough Council workers accepting employment on the Gisborne-East Coast railway construction works. One of the members submitted a motion to the effect that steps be taken to prevent the do livery of coal to members of the Waihi EnginedTivera' and Winders' Union and those of the tally clerks who, after coming out, had resumed with the mining companies. The motion found a seconder, but after discission it was decided to let the matter drop. It was announced that the executive had landed a 10-ton track of coal at Waihi for delivery to members who might not be in a position to pay for fuel. No reference was made to the applications lodged; by the mining companies with the Warden's Court for certificates of protection for six months for the Waihi, Grand Junction, arid Waihi Extended Companies' mining leases.

DENIAL BY FEDERATION.

NO INTERNAL DISSENSION.

IN FULL ACCORD WITH STRIKERS, .[BY TELEGHAPH.~-OWN : CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday. The executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, in whose hands the full control; of the Waihi dispute has been vested, met yesterday, and considered certain • newspaper - statements anent the trouble. The federation states that all reports as to internal dissension and backing down are absolutely without foundation," and that the action taken by the Waihi men has the full endorsement of the executive. The executive also denies the statement that it is Calling "off" the strike on Monday morning, the statement being without the slightest foundation in fact. The Federation of Labour states that it is in full accord with the men on strike.

A CRUSADE IN THAMES.

. MASS MEETING HELD. AUDIENCE NOT ' IMPRESSED. [BY telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, -Sunday. In connection with the Waihi strike an open-air meeting was held here on Saturday night. " Addresses were given, by several speakers, amongst whom were Mr. McMillan (secretary of the Waihi' Miners' Union) and' Mr. Marshall (president of the Huntly Union). The speakers explained the position with regard to the strike and its origin, and condemned the action of the engine-drivers in their attempt to withdraw from the main union ana form a separate union of an opposition nature without any reasonable or just cause, seeing that the enginedrivers, who were only a very small section, had always received every consideration from the Waihi Miners' Union. The speakers endeavoured to impress upon the audience that the object of the federation Was to amalgamate the whole of the workers into one solid body, and any attempt to cause division must be opposed strongly, as their only hope of ultimate success in bettering and improving the conditions of the workers was in the strength of combination. The meeting continued until a late hour, a considerable amount of time being devoted to expounding the principles of socialism as applicable to the interests of the workers. A number of questions were asked by persons in the assembly.who were not in accord with the speakers. So far as could be seen, the speakers did not make much impression on the audience, which did not'appear to bo in sympathy with them.

THE MEN AND THE OWNERS

EARLY CONFERENCE UNLIKELY CONDITIONS NOT COMPLIED WITH The strike at Waihi has now been in operation for 14 days,.and there seems to be no prospect of an early conference between the miners and the companies towards a settlement of the dispute. The matter so far as the companies are concerned has boon placed in the hands of the New Zealand Gold Mine Owners' Association, and tho strikers expect that their I case will be conducted by the Federation of Labour. • Proposals for a conference were made to the Mine Owners' Association won after the strike was called/ and tl?fi y W^ .? la ' 6 that the association would meet the men onlv if certain condxtions were complied with. The union has not announced; it* agreement with these conditions, and the association has not, made any arrangements to meet the men MivGharUs Rhodes, president of the association, informed a reporter last evening.

that .'when the associations conditions were accented some time would meceseaxilv elapse before the conference could be hold, a« the association could not complex its arrangement* at a day's notice. THE TEAMWAYMEN'S DELEGATE.

RETURNS WITHOUT NEWS.

Mr. Paul Richardson, president of the. Auckland Tramways Union, has "turned from Wellington after attending the conference of the Federation of Labour. He stated yesterday that he returned to attend to several important matters of a private nature, but that he would return to Wellington in the course of a few,days to attend to further sittings of the delegates in conference in that. city. He declined to make any statement whatever as to the reports that have gained currency concerning the attitudo of the conference- regarding the strike at \7aihi, or as to the proceedmm of the conference. He stated that the Auckland Tramways Union would in all probability- bo called together before ho returned to Wellington, if - " his executivo considered it advisable, but he had nothing to say regarding the attitude his union would take in the event of the Waihi strike continuing. The union has not yet had the facts concerning the strike placed before it,, and has not arrived at any decision. It was suggested to Mr. Richardson that he might intend interviewing the officials of other unions affiliated with the Federation of Labour. He replied that he had several messages from other delegates to deliver, but nothing further.

MANNING OF THE MINES.

THE LAW POPULARLY EXPLAINED.

The applications for protection, which are being made by the Waihi and the Grand Junction Gold Mining Companies, aro necessitated by the provisions of the Mining Act, and tho regulations mad* Tinder it. The existing law demands that a property over which mining rights are held must bo continuously manned in the proportion of one man to every three acere, and of the total number, not. more than half may be represented by machinery. The attitudo of the law is that the holder of a mining concession must carry on the operations which it permits or make way for some one who is prepared, to do so. In certain circumstances, protection may be granted relieving the holders of "the mining rights from tho requirements of the law, and in the present instance the Waihi companies are seeking retention on the ground that the miners ave refused to carry on the operations of the field, and have picketed the mines to prevent anyone else from working, so that it is a physical impossibility for the companies to man their properties. The first applications by the companies will be heard by the warden of Waihi on Wednesday, whon they will ask for summary protection for 14 days for all claims to enable them to carry on until the applications for protection of the main and subsidiary rights have been heard, on June 14. . ; It is expected that tho Miners' Union, will oppose the applications with the object of" compelling the companies to resume operations.

NO CHANGE AT REEFTON

STATE EMPLOYING MEN. WORK ON THE RAILWAYS. BOTH SIDES STANDING FIRM. NO SYMPATHY WITH WAIHI UNION. [by TELEGRAPH.OWN correspondent.] Reefton, Sunday. Government assistance has been promised for the relief of the men thrown out of work. A good many have already gone away, 17 being token on at the Westport end of the railway works. There are still, however, a very large number unemployed. There is no change to report in the situation. The company seems still to stand firm, and the men are equally as firm., As far as can be seen, the Reefton workers have no sympathy whatever with the. Waihi In fact, strong indignation is expressed at a West Coast correspondent of a Christchurch paper alleging collusion between the Waihi miners and those at Reofton.

Strong feeling is growing against the company. The other mines are still enaffected. The management of the Keep-ifc-Dark mine report that the men are working a block of payable stone, 150 ft in length and 30ffe wide. Two men are still working the poppers there.

MENTAL DEFECTIVES ACT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Saturday. Section 33 of the Mental Defectives Act was exercised probably for the first- time by Mr. Justice Chapman to-day, when a man appeared on a charge of committing an indecent act. The section provides that if any person indicted.for any offence pleads guilty upon arraignment, or if any person is committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on a. plea of guilty, and it appears to the Court, in the form of depositions or otherwise, that there is evidence that he was insane at the time of the alleged offence, the Court may direct that a plea of "not guilty" be recorded instead of the plea of guilty, and thereupon the trial may proceed as if he pleaded not guilty. The prisoner was ordered to bo detained and tried at the next session.