TIRED OF THE STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15094, 10 September 1912, Page 8

TIRED OF THE STRIKE

WAIHI STILL QUIET. MORE LABOURERS OFFERING, COAL ORDERED FROM HUNTLY. : ' TROUBLE WITH WATER UNLIKELY. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN correspondent.] Waihlj Monday. There have been no fresh developments of moment-in connection with the strike to-day, either at Waihi or Waikino, and no following of engine-drivers. The companies' officials are somewhat reticent and disinclined to discuss plans for the future, but there is a feeling abroad, baaed on recent happenings, that in the course of a few days more definite action will be, taken towards a general resumption of operations. This morning, for the first time since the strike was declared, the battery whistles at Waikino were sounded to summon the arbitrationists employed there to work. The response was distinctly satisfactory, as over twenty additional men made a start, thus increasing the number of workers in the employ to close on fifty. Further Lands will be taken on during the week, it being the Waihi Company's intention to find work for all suitable men who offer, and offers are coming in daily. As -already stated, the men seeking employment "must soon exceed the number required in connection with the transmission line and transformer house works at Waikino, and other I: avenues of work will have to be found for them. In all probability they will have to be employed about the treatment plant or sent on to Waihi to erect poles for the Horahora scheme, or commence other preliminary works about the mines and batteries here. Strikers Growing Apathetic. A section of the more militant federation ists in Waihi are still endeavouring to rally the, waverers with the oft-repeated assurance that if the men stand solid they must'win the day, but are finding the task increasingly difficult from day to day. The ranks of the disaffected arc growing, and not a few men who had previously been loyal to the federation have been heard.to admit that defeat is now inevitable, and that the only question is as to .the. length of time which will elapse before the companies decide that sufficient men are available to permit of mining and milling operations being resumed. No Bar to ".Resumption.

The "water bogey " has now been completely exploded, as it will yet be something" like three months before the water will reach the No, 9 plan level (generally referred to as No. 10 level) in the Waihi mine. Even when it reaches the level it will do little or no damage to the workings. It may be added further that when the company sees fit to commence clearing the water from the mine a start can and will be made to lift the water. Orders have been sent to Huntly for coal, and unless the miners there refuse to hew it the first consignment should reach Waikino in the course of a day or two. That the Huntly miners will strike seems highly improbable, as the adoption of such a course would immediately throw just on 500 additional men "on to the strike fund., and others would no doubt follow as industries became affected by the shortage of coal. The federation certainly could not shoulder the extra burden, the tactics adopted by the executive in confining the strikes to Waihi and Reefton having made this evident. The Police Prosecutions. . This morning a notice was posted on the Miners' Union board as follows: —' £2500 from Australia." Mr. W. E. Parry, president of the Miners', Union, left for Thames this morn- ! ing, and it is reported that'it is his intention to employ counsel to defend the strikers summoned by tho police to appear before the magistrate (Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M.) on Wednesday on various charges alleging - insulting language towards, and attempted intimidation of, engine-drivers, and assault. BoJice Commissioner Cullen and Inspector Wright (in charge of the Thames district) paid a visit to Waikino this morn- { ing and found everything there quiet and I orderly. ;-, • , .

AN UNPOPULAR LEVY. .TRAMWAYMEN'S LAST WEEK. The final 2s levy by the Auckland Tramways' Union for the Waihi strike will be taken on Friday. This will complete the thirteen ■ weeks agreed upon at a special meeting of the union held some weeks ago. It? is'- the intention of the union to then place list* at the different depots and invife voluntary subscriptions in aid of the strike fund. It is stated by members that these lists ire not likely to be liberally subscribed- to. ' Even the levy has been far from satisfactory from the strikers' point of view. At the best only about 60 per cent, of the men paid the levy, and the number has been gradually dwindling down till. now about threefourths of the men are not paying, and about a fourth are keeping up the levy. It is freely stated that the unpopularity of the levy is due to a strong feeling among the tram.wayra.en that the strike should not have been called, and to the fact that they look on the leaders of the Waihi Miners"'Union as firebrands, and disapprove i of • many of their indiscreet utterances. '■■■ '•;,-, ; . . THE STRIKERS CONDEMNED. HELP FOR THE WINDERS. At the meeting of the Port Albert Fruitgrowers' Association yesterday the action of the Waihi miners towards their fellowworkers, the "engine-drivers, was introduced. After' discussion it was unanimously decided to canvass for subscriptions towards the fund being raised for the winders. The members strongly condemned the action of the miners. A sum of £10 has been forwarded to the secretary of the , fund in Auckland.

POSITION AT REEFTON. PROSPECT OF SETTLEMENT BRIGHTER. Tby telegraph.—PßESS ASSOCIATION'.] , Reefio.v, Monday. A meeting of th© Miners' Union was held yesterday. It is understood nothing definite was done. The officials stated that prospects of a settlement' were brighter. It is understood that the union will not be represented at the Supreme Court on Wednesday at Greymouth, when ' the Consolidated Goldfielde, Ltd.. appeal (against the magistrate's grant of protection, conditional on applying to.the Arbitration Court. i,