THE SUSPENSE TELLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15131, 23 October 1912, Page 8

THE SUSPENSE TELLING

HUNTLY GROWING RESTIVE.

TWO OMINOUS INCIDENTS.

INTIMIDATING THE MAORIS.

THE NEW UNION'S PROSPECTS [BY TELEGR KPIS. SPECIAL REPORTER.] Hr/XTi/r, Tuesday. Up to yesterday matters had been very quiet at Huntly, and the strikers> had given very little cause for adverse criticism as to their behaviour. The days of idleness 'and the vagueness of the communication from tho federation, combined with the attitude of tho federation towards tho Auckland unions affiiliated to it, have caused some of the more restive spirits to show a tendency to spoil the record of good behaviour. To-day two incidents occurred which indicate that some at least of v the strikers are inclined to get out of hand. , This afternoon a pressman was walking inoffensively along the main road, and he paused- in front of the executive's office to ascertain-if any' messages were .posted up. Suddenly a miner, said to be 'an Austrian stepped forward and said to the pressman in an angry .tone: "Would you like V dip 'in the river?" °~ ''No, thank you," responded the pressman, in a mild but firm manner.

"Then,'' persisted the striker, "I will well throw you in." With that, he made a rush forward, his' hands being clenched, hub ho was prevented from reaching the object of his wrath by tho intervention of the secretary of the union (Mr. J. E. Duncan), who closed in on the unruly one, and ' with the assistance of a couple of other strikers, held him against the wall, while the pressman leisurely walked away. ... * Earlier in the 'afternoon an arbitration advocate was interfered with, one of the strikers catching him by the coat, and others endeavouring to jostle him. On this occasion, also, the secretary intervened, a little persuasion succeeded in pacifying tho restive ones. At this juncture. Constable Ryan came along, and dispersed the crowd. These two incidents may bo traced to the federation tactics of intimidation and

suggestion.' It is notorious here that prominent federationists have gone about suggesting direful things might happen. A sequel to "this method of keeping agitation alive is tho fact that the leaders are faced with the situation that some of the strikers might get beyond control, and do some damage. There aro only two constables controlling Huntly and ' the surrounding districts Constables Ryan and Ingram— and they have so far done excellent work under trying circumstances in keeping order. There was an increased number of pickets stationed down tho river to meet the Maoris who were coming to work. The two constables wero there to see. that the natives met with no interference. The loaders remonstrated with the constables, as they considered that the presence of the officers was not called for. The Maoris, however, complain that some of the strikers have been malting uso of threats to them. ~ Some of the strikers "in order to get tucker," as one of them expressed it, have taken up contracts for flax-cutting and scrub-clearing in tho neighbourhood of Huntly. Matters have so far progressed in connection with- tho proposal to form a new union, free from tho federation and registered, under the Arbitration Act, that tho promoters have everything in readiness to mako an. application for registration. Out of respect to the wishes of a number of the workers, strong advocates of arbitration, who aro outside the arbitration union at present, and who wish to, give .tho Federation of Labour a last "clianco of settling the Huntly difficulty—the application for registration will probably be held oyer until the end of this week. A prominent , Auckland supporter of arbitration has written to the promoters of the now union at Huntly, inquiring if any of the members stand in need of financial assistance, and volunteering to raise a fund if necessary.

INFORMATION FROM FEDERATION

" NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDING." [BX TELEGRAPH. — OWN COItUESt'ON'DE.VT.] Honti.t, Tuesday. The following notice was posted outside the office of the Waikato Coalminers' Union this afternoon: —"Information has been received from the Federation to the effect that at the instigation of the Government negotiations are proceeding for the arrangement of a conference between the Minoowners' Association and the Federation of Labour in all matters of dispute. It is more than probable thai representatives of the Federation of Labour will visit Hnntly towards the end of die week."

PROPOSAL FOR A CONFERENCE.

DIRECTORS SEE NO GOOD IN IT.

Tho directors of the Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., have not received any official communication referring to tho telegram which has been posted up at the office of the Waikato Miners' "Union. A Hkkai.d representative yesterday asked Mr. IS. W. Alison, chairman _ of. tho directors, what would bo tho attitude of the company to tho proposal for 'a conference..

Mr. Alison stated in reply that the company had no agreement with the Federation of Labour, and had never had any communication with, that body. That being so, tho directors could not see that any good would result from such a conference. "Would the directors welcome the formation of a union under tho Arbitration Act?" Mr. Alison was asked. "Certainly they would, bvt it is quite certain that they will make no agreement with the Federation of labour,' was the reply.

MASS MEETING AT KARANGAHAKE

QUESTION OF " LOCK-OUT" RAISED [BY TEEEGRAPII. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Tuesday. A mass meeting of miners was held at Karangahako last evening, the principal business being a discussion as to whether the closing down of tho Talisman mine and battery could not bo considered by the workers as a "lock-out."' The r&»ult of tho deliberations of the meeting is not officially known, but it is stated that no particular solution of the matter was arrived at.

THE MINES AT WAIHI.

MORE MEN EMPLOYED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wathi, Tuesday. Ten men were enrolled by tho mining companies to-day, eight by the Waihi Gold Mining Company and two by the Grand Junction Company. All the men taken on by tho Waihi company were sent underground, and four of the number reported themselves as experienced miners. The men employed by the Grand Junction Company wore "put to work on the new plant, arid so far no miners have been put into the mine. It is quito probable that work underground will not be resumed until regular supplies of coal from Huntly are available.

Yesterday 430 short tons of quartz were tipped into tie mill hoppers by the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and about 330 tons wore railed to the Victoria battery at Waikino. About tho same tonnage was placed in the hoppers to-day.

FLAXMILLERS* "DAY OFF."

SYMPATHY WITH STRIKERS.

fBY •raxoiurn.—press association.]

Palmebston North, Tuesday.

The flaxmills in the district closed down to-day owing to tho workers taking a day off to sympathise with the Waihi strikers, j Palmerston North presented a lively appearance with between 500 and 500 idles men about the streets. A meeting in tho Opera House was addressed by Messrs. Semple, Webb, and Richards.