WAIHI STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10545, 23 March 1920, Page 5

WAIHI STRIKE

STOP-WORK MEETING DECIDES IN FAVOUR OF DOWNING TOOLS. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION". WAIHI, March 22. A stop-work meeting of the Ohmoniuri Miners’ Batteries Union commenced this morning and concluded this evening. The meeting was not open to the Press, but it was oiiic-ially intimated that a strike had been declared and that the decision had been carried by a large majority. The mraci and battries at Waihi and Awaklno have not been worked since Saturday afternoon, owing to the stop-work meeting to-day, and will remain idle until such time as some settlement of the dispute -between the mine-owners and tho two unions (engineers and minors) is reached. As to when and how this will bo brought about, nothing can be said at tho present stage, but it would appear from the voting at the meeting that while not unanimous, the groat majority of the members of tho Minors' Union favoured the proposal to down tools and join with the men of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers in a strike. The issues placed before the meeting were whether there should be a strike or same other form of action taken to insist on the demands made being granted bv the mine-owners. The official figures were: For the strike 297 Other form of action 87 The motion for strike or no strike was then submitted and was declared unanimously in favour of a strike. No information is available from the mine-owners, who have so far not, been officially notified of tho decision of 'the union, but it is presumed that the mines will automatically close down and that no effort will be made in tho direction of seeking outside labour in the meantime. AN IMPUDENT THING. UNION ASKS FOR INCREASED BONUS. AUCKLAND, March 22. The fact that a union, some members of which were on strike, had applied to the Arbitration Court for an increased war bonus, .occasioned some comment by Mr Justice Stringer at a sitting of the Arbitration Court. The union in question was tho Ohinemurl branch of the Society ot Engineers, and it was stated that members employed by the Wailxi Grand Junction Company and V.’aihi Gold Alining Company were on strike. The judge said the union was violating the prmciples of the court and at the same time asked for an award to be made in its favour. It was a most impudent thing for the union to do. A representative of the employers said it was feared that the engineers “might pull the miners out with them.” Tho judge said that in tho circumstances the union should not ask the court to grant the men an increased bonus. He suggested that the application should be withdrawn. Tho representative of the union preferred that the application should be dismissed by the court, and this was accordingly done. POSITION AT OTHER, JUNES. AUCKLAND, March 22. The position in regard to the output of coal from the Pukemiro Collieries has improved somewhat during tho pash week. A slight increase in production has been reported, but tho output of tho mine has not yet reached a normal quantity. No further developments have occurred in the Extended mine at Huntly as the result of “creep,” which has developed’ in No. 4 section. /Work is proceeding as usual in tho other faces and the output of coal has not been appreciably affected.