“TREMENDOUS HURDLE”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8264, 29 October 1912, Page 1

“TREMENDOUS HURDLE”

DEPLETED WAR CHEST WHY HUNTLY MINERS START WORK TO-DAY. FEDERATION’S ADVICE. Special to the “Times.” AUCfi-LAND, uciober 28. Speaking at a meeting of nuuuy coai miners on Saturday, wnou it wan agreed toat the lederacionists should resume work ou Tuesday, Mr Sempie emphasised uie fact that lack of tunas uccessuaiou tho decision arrived at. The flunily miners remaining out on strike meant not only tue stO men affected there, bui a large number at Karaugafiake, auo possioiy more elsewhere later, it was hetcer to give the federation a chance to fignt it out to a finish at Wailii anu Reefton tow than risk failure all over, tie deprecated the talk of the federation turning down the Waikato miners. The federation endorsed their action, but the financial factor was a tremendous hurdle. The local executive, numbering nine, would be provided with full wages until work was obtained by them. Messrs Fraser and Richards spoke in the same strain, and advised tho men to resume work on Tuesday. It was moved, “TTiat tho local men take another week to consider the position, the men in the meantime to take work wherever it was obtainable." An amendment to the effect that the men accept the advice of the federation delegates and resume work on Tuesday was carried by an overwhelming majority. The meeting ended with a motion, carried unanimously, "That in the event of any further victimisation on-Tuesday morning, the whole body of the men refrain from going down the mine." The meeting is said to have been exceptionally orderly, and practically unanimous. How far the formation of the new union influenced the decision arrived at is a moot pointy but it is supposed to have been an important factor, as it is generally believed a considerable number of the men were prepared to start on Tuesday irrespective of the attitude of the federation. As the men will resume work under an Arbitration Court award, expiring next April, it is not expected that the directors will refuse work to the men, as the position will be practically the same as before, excepting that the directors have got rid, as workers, of the executive, who are looked on as the cause of the trouble.