WORK IN WAIHI MINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15141, 4 November 1912, Page 8

WORK IN WAIHI MINES.

TIDE STILL TURNING.

FEDERATION LEADERS. INCIDENT AT THE STATION. [IIY TELEGRAVH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Saturday. Two more men were taken on by the mining companies this morning, making the total for the week 36, of whom several are experienced miners. It is expected that 10 or 12 practical Waihi miners of long standing on the field will resume work on Monday morning, and it is quite probable that the number will be exceeded. Others are sure to follow during the week, as the thinking men of Waihi now appear to appraise the assurances of the federation leaders at their true worth, and recognise that if they do not make an early start there will be no work for them, at least as far as the Waihi mine is concerned. . It is now quite certain that the Waihi Company will not commence a second shift for some months to come, and that the. additional miners required will have signed on before many days elapse. The Grand Junction Company will, of course, absorb a fair number of minors when the mine is reopened, but when the companies' immediate requirements are satisfied there will remain hundreds of men for whom noemployment will be available for some considerable time. A mass meeting of strikers was held in tho Miners' Union Hall this morning, the ; attendance numbering about 200. Addresses wero given by the, federation leaders, .Messrs. Webb and Semple. The former again assured the strikers that ; they were going to win, and that the federation's own watchword was " Victory," following immediately with the admission that if they were beaten it would bo by their own class. Yesterday afternoon, at Waikino. the federation leaders (Messrs. Semple and Webb) had an experience somewhat similar to those experiences to which the workers had been subjected by the federatiomsts, and do not appear to have appreciated the .attentions paid to them. They wore on a visit of inspection, and after holding a meeting with tho strike pickets nmde their way (accompanied by i the pickets) to the railway platform to | catch the train for Waihi. The arbitrationists returning from Waihi to Waikino heard of their presence, and about 80 •strong made their way to 'ho platform. Acting as spokesman, one of the workers called upon Mr. Semple for an address. The federation organiser was for once not in speech-making mood, and after declining the request he and the president (Webb) retired to the railway carriage. The workers were, however, not to be denied the opportunity of giving expression to their opinion of the federation and its leaders. A running fire of ironical comment, interspersed with cheers for the new union, the workers, and the police, was kept up until the train moved out from the station.