THE POSITION AT WAIHI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15124, 15 October 1912, Page 8

THE POSITION AT WAIHI.

GOOD SUPPLY OF COAL. PUMPS TO START THIS .WEEK. WORK PROCEEDING QUIETLY. MORE MINERS EMPLOYED. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.} .Waihi, Monday. Eloven mores men were employed by the mining companies this morning, live being added to the Waihi Company's underground staff, and six signing on with the Waihi Grand Junction Company. Of the latter three* were practical miners, two being local men. They will be sent below in a day or two, probably.on Wednesday, by which time the management expect to havo a full party to put into the mine. The Waihi Company's tally of quartz to-day for the mill at Waikino was 187 tons, of. which 162 tons were raised from the mine. In addition to drawing ore from the shrinkage blocks quartz is now being broken out? from three or four stones in the low levels of tho Waihi mine. This morning the management put a gang of men into tho No. 6 shaft to effect a few necessary repairs to the timbers, etc. Ihis work will occupy a day or two and when completed all tho winding shafts Nos. 2, 4, and 6) will be available for tho haulage of quartz, and 400 tons of ore will then bo forwarded daily to the. Victoria battery at Waikino for treatment. It is anticipated that the unwatenng of the low levels of the Waihi and Grand Junction mines will be commenced before tho end of tho present week. Several additional members have been enrolled by the Ohincmuri Mines and Batteries Employees' Union during tho past few daye. A local committee and acting secretary have been appointed to conduct the affairs of the union at Waihi. The demonstrations against the workers to-day wero again of a very tame description- , , , . Even in the event of delay being experienced in connection with the resumption of work at the Huntly Coal Mines the position at Waihi will not be affected. The Waihi Company recently took the precaution of largely increasing its coal reserves, and is now in a position to continue crushing and other operations involving the use of coal for a considerable period. . , „ The hearing of charges alleging following up and insulting language against a number of strikers will be resumed by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., to-morrow. When charged at the last sitting of the Court the accused all pleaded not guilty. The information lodged by a young woman, charging J. Delaney with assault on October 9, and tho counter-charges preferred by Delaney against the woman and a striker, alleging similar offences, will also be heard. "It is understood that Mr. T. Moresby (Paeroa) will appear for tho woman," and that the services of Mr. T. Cotter, K.C., Auckland, have been retained by Delaney. In view of counsel being engaged these cases will quite probably be dealt, with first.

THE HOSPITAL FUNDS. A GOVERNMENT GRANT. (BY telegraph.-— ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, Monday. The Cabinet on Saturday decided to give a straight-out advance of .€IOOO to keep the Wuihi Hospital running, the Board's finance having become seriously impaired as a result of the miners' strike. A WATERSIDE UNION VOTE. IN FAVOUR OF FEDERATION. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dckedin, Monday. About a month ago the Dunedin Waterside Workers' Union held a secret ballot on the whether it should cancel its affiliation with the Federation of Labour. • Out of a total voto of 246, the proposal to secede from the federation was carried by 19 votes. Tho_ result of the ballot, however, did not give satisfaction in some quarters, it being freely stated that the ballot papers did not sufficiently clearly distinguish tho issue to he decided. At a meeting of the workers on Thursday night, it was decided to take a fresh ballot on tho proposal, and.this was held yesterday, when the voting resulted as follows: For remaining in federation 167, against 106.

A DIVIDED UNION. WELLINGTON WATERS I DERS. SECESSION VERY PROBABLE. BALLOT ON HOLIDAY QUESTION. . [P.Y lELKGRAVK. SI'ECIAI. COKRESPOUDEXT.] Wellington, Monday. Disapproval of the federation tactics has caused ;i wide breach in the ranks of the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union, and its secession from the federation appears only a matter of time. The " holiday" proposal was discussed by a large meeting of the union on Saturday afternoon. Among those who arrived just as tho meeting was about to start was a man who displayed come yards of red, white, and blue ribbon. "We are going to fly tliess colours up at that meeting," it was explained. "Some of those federationists think that they can ran tlio whole show, and we are just going to show them that they cannot. When wo fly these colours there will be trouble." When the meeting began there were over 1000 men in tho room. Mr. P. Curtis, president of the union, took the chair. The crowd' appeared to be divided into two sections. Those np near the platform seemed to favour the federation, and were moro demonstrative and noisy than their brother workers at the back.

The trouble mentioned by the bearer of tho red, white, and blue ribbon was not long in coming. The president rose and explained why the meeting had been called, and at the suggestion of the executive of the Federation of Labour endeavoured to move a. resolution to the effect that a "holiday" should bo taken by the Wellington __ members of the Waterside Workers' Union next Saturday, as a demonstration against the imprisonment of tho Waihi strikers. This was met by cheers from tho front section and hoots from the back. Pandemonium reigned for a few minutes, and it was then that* the red, white, and blue ribbon was displayed. Almost at once two men exchanged blows, and things became lively for a. time. Presently, however, wiser counsels prevailed, and the boxing' 5 display ceased. Once again the chairman endeavoured "to speak, but again hoots, groans, and cheers broke forth.

It- appeared that members were asked to signify their intention regarding the motion by saying "Aye"' or "No." When it was put there was a chorus of "Ayes" from one section of the crowd. A man at the back called out. " What about-the " Noes." Apparently, however, those who were, against, the motion were not asked to vote at all. Then someone said, " Will you take an amendment?" but the executive officials did not want, any amendments, and again there was uproar. Eventually the more sober-minded part of the crowd succeeded in bringing things to an issue, and it was decided that a ballot foe taken on the question of downing tools next Saturday. The ballot will be held tomorrow and Wednesday, and the result should be known by Wednesday evening.

From inquiries mad© amongst the waterside workers after the meeting the general impression gained was that the voting, tomorrow and on Wednesday will he against "downing tools" next Saturday. .It was also thought that Saturdays dec™ to take a ballot and not act upon the federation's suggestion was a blow to Mr. bem-, pie and his followers. It is regarded as the beginning of the end in regard to the Wellington waterside workers' connection with the Federation of Labour. The majority of the men are not pleased with the methods adopted, and are not afraid to epeak their minds about the question of seceding from the federation. If the ballot decides against a holiday it is very likely that tire anti-fcderationists will gam this point also. It is understood that the men (four in number) who exchanged blows at the meeting will bo brought before the executive committee of the union and dealt with according to the rules and regulations. ■

THE POSITION AT NAPIER. OBSERVING THEIR AGREEMENT. (nr telegraph.—press association.) i Napier, Monday. No troublo was experienced in unloading the steamer Hurst to-day. The president of the Waterside Workers Union stated that tho 'men wero working under an agreement, which was being observed by both sides. Asked about the Lyttelton trouble, he said the union was not affiliated to the " red feds.," and did not intend to be. TEOtJBLE IN WHANGABEI. WORK AT KIRIPAKA STOPPED. [BY. TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wh.vngarei, Monday. On Saturday the miners at Kiripaka declared a day off to show their sympathy with tho Waihi minors. On lining up for work this morning at. eight o'clock they were informed that their services were no longer required. This will affect about . 20 men only, as tho mine had given out, and a number of tho men had then shifted to the company's new mine at Hikurangi. _ t Tho men at work at Kiripaka were on opening up a new mine, so tho stoppage of work will not in any way deteriorate tho property, as only surface work was in progress. . There is, however, a danger of tho trouble spreading to Hikurangi. as the miners there are in very close sympathy with the Kiripaka men.