THE STRIKE AT WAIHI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15061, 2 August 1912, Page 8

THE STRIKE AT WAIHI.

COMMISSIONERS' MISSION. REPORT READY TO-DAY. GREAT DISTRESS IN THE TOWN. The two Conciliation Commissioners, Messrs. J. 11. Triggs and P. Hally, who have been inquiring into the labour conditions at Waihi, arrived in Auckland yesterday. They went to Waihi not to attempt to effect a settlement of the strike, but to arrive at .such a knowledge of the position as would enable them to present a reliable report, to the I'rirae .Minister.

Mr. Triggs stated last night' that the report of the Commission would be forwarded to Wellington to-day. The method adopted had been to invite the people of Waihi to tender statements, and about 60 men and several women had come forward. They represented all classes of the. community, except that there were no representatives of the Federation of Labour sympathisers. Everyone appeared to be suffering from the effects of the strike: nearly everyone was much distressed by the position, and the women especially were very sore.

.Mr. Triggs said he had been amazed at the condition into which Waihi had fallen. Businesses were mined, the town was half empty, and cases of distress were frequent and evident. There were, cases of people who had sold valuable houses, furniture, and all, fos a few pounds; and altogether Waihi was in such a. condition of stagnation and discomfort as lift would never have believed without the evidence of his own senses. In short, thing- could not possibly look worse.

Continuing, .Mr. Triggs said thai, in Lis opinion, there was little tope of any settlement being effected until iio issue of strike pay stopped. He added that tie action of the Government in Bending the Conciliation Commissioners to Waihi to inquire into the conditions was greatly appreciated, as it held out a promise that something might bo done to hasten the end of the almost impossible position rh the erstwhile prosperous centre.

UNIONS UNDER THE ACT. [BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL f.OE.RESrOXDE.VT.] Wellington, Thursday. A return presented to-day showed that on December .31 there were 307 industrial unions for workers registered under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, the total membership was 55,629.