WAIHI STRIKERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15075, 19 August 1912, Page 8

WAIHI STRIKERS.

MOTION FOR A BALLOT.

RULED OUT. BYTHE CHAIRMAN

ALTERING THE RULES.

TO .PREVENT SECRET

BALLOTS.

A MONTH'S NOTICE OF

STRIKES

FEDERATION'S NEW METHODS.

[TIT IT.LKGRAPH.—-OWN' CORRESPONDENT.]

Waihi, Sunday. A special general meeting of members of tho 'Waihi Minors' Union (registered on August .15, 1911, under tho Trades Union Act, 1903, as the " Waihi .Trades Union of Workers ") was held on Saturday morning, there being between 300 and 400 members present. Mr. W. E. Parry, president, was in tho chair. Tho business was to consider notices of motion, one of which was that tabled by Mr. Rudd, as follows: —

" That in the opinion of the members of tho Waihi Trade Union of Workers, tho time has arrived when a ballot should be taken as to whether or not the Federation of Labour should endeavour, through the Mir.eownors' Association, to draw up an agreement satisfactory to tho men, tho same to bo ratified by the Arbitration Court."

! As a majority of the men left in the district are- known to be supporters of tho federation, and lose- no opportunity of offering intimidation and coercing those who do not see eye to eye with them on matters relating to the dispute,, it was regarded as a foregone conclusion that the motion to be decided on a shown of hands would not be carried, but it was expected that the vote would give some indication of the strength of the respective '. parties,, and of the prospects of the anti-strikers being able, to force an early settlement of tho striko, which enters upon its fifteenth week on Monday. The motion, however, was not put'to the vote, and tho attitude adopted by the chairman and his followers conclusively proved that they are prepared to set aside the rules framed for the conduct of tho union's affairs, and flout tho provisions of the Trades Union Act, under which tho organisation is registered, rather than give their opponents an opportunity of seeking a solution of the trouble. In effect, the president gave it out that tho rules could be broken with impunity if they did not suit, and, despite the protests of the minority, the dictum laid down was followed.

In moving the motion standing in his name, Mr. Rudd gave his reasons at some length. The strike, he said, had been declared by the Miners' Union because tho engine-drivers had seen fit to break away and form a separate union. But if tho federation would move towards a settlement, the friction between tho unions might be removed by tho insertion in the agreement of a clause making provision for the engine-drivers to rejoin the Miners' Union. , The taking of a, secret *. ballot would also give expression to the feeling of the men as a whole, and it was desirable' that they, should be given an opportunity of so voting, seeing that they had in reality been brought out on striko as the result of a secret ballot.

The motion was duly "seconded, but' was promptly ruled out of order by the chairman, who stated that even if the Arbitration Court was not concerned in the drafting of - any agreement which might be drawn up, it would, nevertheless, be called upon to settle any subsequent breaches or disputes which might arise. Also, he stated that if any agreement was arrived at the Waihi Union would necessarily have to secede from the federation. The chairman's ruling was in direct opposition to Rule 56 of the union's regulations, which reads as follows:—" When the debate on any motion shall have concluded, the president shall put the same to the decision of the meeting in a distinct and audible voice. The voting shall be'by a show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by any two members present."

Ballot Clause Struck Out. Pursuant to notice, Mr. Stow moved: "That the rules of the union be revised to bring same into conformity with the rules of the Federation of Labour." After discussion the words after "revised " were deleted, and the motion adopted in its amended form. The mover then intimated that his main .object was to revise Rule 56 by striking out the word " ballot and substituting the word " division," and it was ultimately, decided that the portion of the rule permitting two members present at a meeting to demand a ballot bo struck out, the remainder to stand. ' A suggested amendment to add to the' 'rule a' clause '~ leaving' it to a majority of the members to decide whether or not, 'ballots should be taken on matters before the. union, was defeated on the voices.

Registrar's Approval ' Dispensed With.

The Chairman'next referred to Rule 90, relating to the powers of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, which reads : "No rule- shall -bo altered, amended, or rescinded, nor shall any. new rulo be adopted, except at a .special meeting of the Council, duly* called, and in ©very case every proposed amendment or now rule shall bo submitted for the approval of tho Registrar of Friendly Societies." Ho ruled that the union could, after rescinding any rules, work upon the amended rules before same had been approved by tho registrar. According to Rule 56, the registrar was " all mighty and powerful" in such matters, but ho (tho speaker) was prepared to give a "democratic" ruling. Exception was taken to the ruling, but on a vote of the meeting it was agreed that it should stand.

In taking upon themselves to vary the rales and give effect to the amendments, without first obtaining the approval of tho registrar, the union would appear to have overridden parts of Sections 28 and 29 of the Trades' Union Act, 1908, _ which provides for heavy penalties against persona circulating "a copy of any mice or of any alterations or amendments of tho same, other than those respectively' which exist for tho timo being, on the pretence that the sarno are tho existing rules of such Trade Union, etc."

Limitation of Membership. Mr. Smith gave notice of his intention to move to the effect that no further members ho permitted to join tho union until after the termination of tho strike.

This, if carried, will prevent tho many non-sympathisers with the federation, who have left the district, rejoining, and ensure a majority vote to supporters of the organisation on matters relating to the strike, and is apparently tabled with that object. It would also appear to bo a distinct breach of Rule 3 of the union's regulations, which provides that tho union shall consist of an unlimited number of members.

Strike Fund Contributions. Tho chairman reporWi, that to August 12 tho sum of £10,052 had boon contributed towards assisting tho Waihi and Rccfton strikers by tho affiliated unions lit tha Dominion and Labour organisations in Australia. There- }vero 433 married and

145 single men receiving strike pay in Wailii, and 157 men in receipt, of pay at Eeefton.

The Eight to Strike.

Mr. Parry also informed the meeting that at the" recent conference) of the executive of tlio Federation of Labour, a clause had been inserted, in the rules, making it compulsory on all affiliated unions to give one month's notice in writing of any contemplated forward movement, and declining to sanction strikes declared by telegram. The announcement gave rise to Homo verso comment, and a motion was .submitted and seconded referring the matters back to the federation for further consideration.

The chairman, however, declined to accept the motion, and added that the federation would not support affiliated unions going on strike unless the rule was complied with.

Officers for Federation Executive. The following were nominated for office on the federation executive :—President, Mr. P. Webb; vice-president, Mr. "W. E. Parry; secretary, Mr. Clover; organiser, Mr.' R. Scruple.'

The Conciliation Commissioners. Touching on the recent visit of the Conciliation Commissioners (Messrs. Triggs and Hally) to Waihi, the chairman contended that in sending these gentlemen to inquire into tho dispute the Government were inciting tho strikers to violence, and also deprecated tho action of tho Government in suggesting intorferonco with " Comrade" King, who was in the district recently m representative of the I.W.W. It was announced that the federation had decided to send an additional delegate to Australia to explain the position relative to the Waihi and Reef ton strikers, and to canvass for funds, Mr. Eraser, president of tho Auckland General Labourers' Union, having been selected to undertake the mission.

Shortly before one. o'clock the meeting was adjourned until Tuesday morning next.