THE STRIKE AT WAIHI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17428, 25 March 1920, Page 4

THE STRIKE AT WAIHI.

i GENERAL CONCERN OF RESIDENTS. " DISASTER AND" RUINATION." j -APPEAL TO PRIME MINISTER. [BT TELEOE4PH. COSEESPONDENT.] WATHT. , But for the fact- that more men than usual are to be seen .about the streets in I the- day time, the silence of the mine whistles, which summon the miners to work, and the absence of the noise created by the falling of the stamps at the Grand Junction Company's battery, there is no-, thing to suggest that a strike is in progress at Waihi. ' Mr. Q. H. Lightfoot, qjEoer in charge of the Labour Department at Auckland, who arrived in Waihi after the miners had decided to strike, on Monday afternoon, spent the whole of yesterday in conference with the various parties to the dispute, but his efforts to bring about a further conference or point to some other course likely to lead to a solution of the trouble, proved futile. He left for Auckland again this morning by the express train.

As what is -known as " big pay," which is made to, all contractors working in the mines, does not take place until Monday mext, there has not so far been a marked exodus of men in search of work in other parts, but according to officers of the unions involved and the remarks of workers, it would appear that many are preparing to leave the town after they have been paid, unless there are indications of an early settlement of the dispute being reached. * Policy of the Leaders.

It seems 'that the policy of the leaders is to get the men out* of the town as soon as possible, if there are no immediate prospects of an understanding being arrived at. In pursuing this course they will have the sympathy and to some ex•tent« the financial support of the Gold and Coal Miners' Federation, with which the Miners' Union is affiliated. The adoption of this course would create a serious position, as prior to the strike there was a shortage of skilled miners, and any-ma-terial dimunition in- the existing numbers would make it impossible for the normal output of gold to be resumed when, the trouble ends.

Business Men ' Confer. At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce this morning a discussion took place on the position created by tHe strike. The Mayor, Mr. Donaldson, stated that a speedy (settlement should be brought about by the intervention of the Government. Mr. J. Snell suggested that some useful information might be given to those present by the president or secretary of the Miners' Union, and the result was that Mi-. Parker, the secretary, attended the meeting. -He said he had no authority from the union, but personally he saw no objection to the Chamber of Commerce or any other body passing resolutions in connection wtyh the strike.

Government Action Urged. After some discussion it was resolved to telegraph to the Prime Minister as follows : — " At a largely-attended meeting of mem* bers of the Chamber of Commerce and business • people, it vivas resolved that in the opinion of this meeting a reasonable living wage should be paid to' the workers, and that unless the Government takes immediate steps to effect an amicable settlement of the present strike it is feared that disaster and ruination to hundreds of homes &ill result. We urgently press for speedy Government action. ,v