THE WAIHI STRIKE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8187, 31 July 1912, Page 4

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

CONCILIATION COMMISSION’S INQUIRY. PKEH ASSOCIATION. WAIHI, July SO. The Conciliation Commissioners (Messrs J. R. Triggs and P. Hally), who are investigating the Waihi dispute, and will report thereon to the Minister for Labor (Hon. W. F. Massey), spent a busy day interviewing certain of the parties concerned and taking voluntary evidence bearing more or less directly on the trouble. So far, no evidence has been, tendered on behalf of the Miners’ Union, and it is understood that the organisation will not bo officially represented before the commission, as the strike promoters are opposed to outside interference.

"TIGHT HAS ONLY BEGAN." MR SEMPLE’S BOUNCE. SPECIAL TO THE "TIMES." CHRISTCHURCH, July 30. In regard to a statement contained in a Press Association message from Wellington that Mr M. Harney, in an interview in Wellington, had said that tho New ouaiand .federation of Labor in the Waihi and Reefton troubles could carry on tho light for two months at least. Mr Semple stated yesterday that tho announcement was quite unofficial. Tho federation was prepared to accept an honorable settlement, but rather than accept the conditions offered, or unytnmg like them, it was prepared to hgnt not only for two months but for twelve months if necessary. Ho was expressing the opinion of every man, woman, and child involved in tho dispute, and of. tho members of tho federation generally, when he said that they would never surrender unconditionally. Motions had been carried ini every union affiliated to the federation upholding the position. As far as the men were concerned the light had only begun. ; At a public meeting held in the King s ■Theatre the following resolution was carried unanimously: “That this meeting of citizens of Christchurch congratulates the workers of Waihi and Rooftop on tho splendid fight they are making for straight unionism, condemns those who are being made the tools of tho employers • in the formation of scab unions, and while pledging all available financial support and heartily endorsing the at(. ( vd e of the Federation of Labor, denounce, , 48 , traitorous and reprehensible the ta,. T as of those alleged Labor, councils whoso efforts are directed towards compelling tho surrender of the unionists by atarv-j ing their women and children," Speaking at the King’s Theatre, Mr Semple said that he had road Mr Charles Rhodes’s statement that he could find a woman who would work the “popper" drill singlehanded. The speaker would accept that as a challenge on the condition that the woman to make the effort should be a member of Mr Rhodes’s family. It was a fair proposition that what Mr Rhodes reckoned to bo , good enough for the wives and daughters of working-men should be good enough for his wile or daughter. He proposed to write to Mr Rhodes to this effect. Tho statement was received with great cheering.

FEDERATION TACTICS FIND NO FAVOUR, raisa association. - AUCKLAND, July SO. Grave dissatisfaction with the tactics of the Federation of Labor has resulted in a gradual depletion in the ranks of members of the Auckland General Laborers' Cnion. The union’s membership only a short while ago represented a total of 800; now the number is said to be less than 450, and probably does not exceed 400. These figures afford a striking example of the strong feeling antagonistic to the federation that exists amongst a large section, of . the workers. RAILWAY MEN’S HELP. . At a meeting of the Thomdon branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants yesterday It was resolved to vote -£!10 from the funds, and to circulate subscription lists among members, to assist tho strikers at Waihi and the men locked out at Reefton. The meeting, which was a large one, was unanimous in supporting tho resolution, tho feeling being that while they did not wish to associate themselves in any way with the causes that led to tho present deadlock, they felt, as unionists, they should support their comrades financially.