DEMOCRATIC THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15004, 28 May 1912, Page 4

DEMOCRATIC THAMES.

HOW IT VIEWS THE STRIKE.

INVASION FROM WAIHI.

A Thames correspondent, who attended the meeting in connection with the Waihi strike, held at Thames on Saturday, write* as follows:— On Saturday night the officials of the Waihi strike, advertised a mass meeting at the corner of Pollen and Mary Streets, Thames, Their subject was, " The Waihi Strike and the Reason Why." All workers were invited to " roll up in numbers and hear the truth." Consequently by eight o'clock Mary-street, opposite the Junction Hotel, was blocked by a solid crowd, consisting of several hundred working men . and their wives. In fact, almost all thinking, working Thames had come, with the intention of getting the point of view of the Waihi strikers. In turn, for two full hours, the strike officials addressed an interested meeting. One and all spoke forcibly. No one but had most evidently convinced himself that the quarrel was a just one. Their language, too. was, on the whole, well con-, trolled. Even if you did not agree with them, and. therefore, became in their eyes either a scab or a capitalist, you felt you had met men who were real fighters, and who were, therefore, entitled to respect. The Upper Dog. Speaker after speaker reiterated the statement that the fight was not between the engine-drivers and the miners, 'but between Capital and Labour. In its broadest sense there is truth in this. The Federation, of Labour is all the time up against the capitalist. If he is to be brought under complete subjection, there is not only no room for mutiny or any differentiation of action in the federated camp, but, besides all outside labour, any other organisation is a menace. We were told that the upper dog (the capitalist) and the lower dog (the labourer) must always fight; that is until organised, federated "labour took over the absolute control of all industries. Incidentally, the same speaker told us how much happier the world would be if the minister, the doctor, and the lawyer were done away with. This, and similar remarks, the audience did not receive with any enthusiasm. As a matter of fact, Thames is a town of workers; the leisured class is unknown. At their lodge or on the street, the miner, tradesman, foundry-hand, fisherman, and professional man meet as equals. And why not? They are mutually interdependent. Is it not true that as long as a man is upright and self-respecting, he is the equal of all he feels are his equals. It is when he begins to whine, or cringe, or be jealous, that he takes a different standing: becomes in truth the lower dog. Of course, men differ in education, in ability, in technical skill, in physical force, otherwise we might as well "have been turned out on a lathe by a maker of Noah's arks. It was stated that the upper dog does not know the lower dog. At Thames everyone knows everyone; that is every.one that he rubs up" against. Of course, if you live in a different part of the town and follow a different occupation, if you play football instead of golf, if vou belong to a different lodge and a different church, there are some you may never know, even by sight, Many men are too busy, too selfish if you like, to hunt up people with whom thev have nothing in common—life is too short. Unionism. We wore told that unionism was neces sary, that in England 500' men" had applied for a billet as hotel porter at 17s 6d per week. Unnecessary information. At Thames one and all are in favour of unionism. Who more than the tradesman, or the professional man? Well he knows that if wages could bo doubled his takings would also he doubled. Would he like to see all the spending power in the hands of a few manufacturers? Rather not! Yes, we are all in favour of unionism, and for the good it has and is doing overlook an occasional lapse from sanity ' J One of these lapses, if I may be allowed to air a pergonal grievance, is a direct injustice to our children. I have boys; some of them mav desire to become carpenters; impossible in Thames. Under . the labour laws, only' two or i three boys can at a time learn carpentering in this town. When the demand for carpenters increases, outsiders — Australians, or, may be, Scandy's—will come in. My boys must perforce remain unskilled this i 6 a blot on union legislation. Now that each trade can insure for itself a remunerative wage, it ought, surely, to open wide its door to the boys of New Zealand. The Whistle. With one speaker it was a sore grievance that he went down the mine as the whistle blew. Evidently, poor chap, it had got on his nerves. At Thames, also, many start work when a whistle blows; but when, in eight hours, the sound is repeated, they promptly knock off. These are the lucky ones. The rest start work, and often start it earlier, bv their watches. If tradesmen, they stop work from one to five hours (according to the day) after the five o'clock whistle has gone, If fishermen, they start and finish at all hours; it deponds on the tide. If doctors, when the baby comes; perhaps, at three a.m. The Mark of the Beast. The vice-president of Waihi Miners' Union told us how solidly the whole federation stood for an individual member. It pleaded guilty, in times of peace, to internal bickerings; but "onto up against capital, it was solid." At Huntly, a delegate told us all the miners would"''down tools" tomorrow if a ton of coal went to the Waihi Companies. All this to prevent the members of the new Enginedrivers' Union at Waihi from working. In an out-of-date book we read that a time will come to the world, when "No man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark." In New Zealand, as well as in America, it seemed at one time as if the capitalist; had registered this mark. As if they had' the tyrannical power of saying who should work, who should not. Fortunately, the Moderates and Labour combining, would have none of this. To-day, no company dare, in an .arbitrary way, eack competent hands. Since then, has risen the Federation of Labour: it has registered a mark. Some enginedrivers at Waihi have dared to refuse, to submit to this brand. Away with , such men ! Crucify them ! What capital may not do is, if done by the federation, perfectly justifiable. The Crowd. On the whole, the crowd, evidently desirous of getting the " hang of things.'" the view-point of their fellow-workers at Waihi, was good-natured and tolerant. Latterly, however, it was evident that the logic (not the earnestness) of the speakers had been weighed in the balance; had been found grievously lacking. Towards 10 o'clock, interjections, more and more insistent, became frequent, and, when the meeting was thrown open for questions, all restraint was thrown off. After repeatedly calling for order, and answering a number of hostile questions, the chairman, a capable "single" man, was manifestly glad to close. A Thames Speaker. Finally. "Charlie." a Thames worker, took the box. Without the histrionic talent of the strike officials, he had all their courage and seriousness of conviction. From first to last, with brief. . pointed sentences, he carried the meeting with him: "He had listened to a lot of talk, but very little sense! What was the pay-roll at Waihi? Ought men drawing on an average 12s 6d per day to bo discontented? They would ruin Waihi, because some men were too independent to join their federation! Was that Tight?" Asked what he thought of the Arbitration Court: "Yes! He would tell them. It was a fair court. Labour and capital were both fairly represented; altso, the Government had its nominee." And so. amid a round of cheering, " Charlie " stood down : and, it being nearly. .11 o'clock, .we all -went homo.