WAIHI STRIKE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11656, 11 June 1912, Page 4

WAIHI STRIKE.

APPEAL TO AUSTRALIANS,

(Pee Press Association.) Wellington, June 10. The following official statement has been received from the Labor Federation in connection with the Waihi and Reef ton labor disputes:—"The result ot a full and vigorous discussion of the Waihi and Reefton disputes by the recent conference of the Federation of Labor was to leave the matter entirely in the hands of the national executive, and it is in the power of the executive to keep the disputes sectional ,or to make them general. The executive has decided to conduct an active campaignon behalf of the Waihi and Reefton men, and will promote, public meetings in all centres. It is believed that these meetings will condemn the decision of the Crown Law Office respecting th'a legalisation of a minority of a trade, and also the. attempt to introduce the single-handed ' popper.' For the purpose of securing support to the men on strike and locked out, the executive has sent to Australia the following circular: 'At the present time a bitter warfaro is raging in New Zealand against the militant labor organisation and unionism. The fight just now is centred" at the goldfields of Waihi and Reefton in the North and | South Islands respectively, 2000 men being on strike or locked out. -Briefly,-'the men are fighting for the night to refuse to work with a "scab" union, knowing that this would imperil all solidarity and working class principle (and ialso. against the compulsory lisle of the "popper" by one miner instead of two), knowing that this speeding up incaus,increased risk of miners' phthisis and increased danger to life and limb. These are the main issues at stake, but in addition tho men are opposing tho further introduction of tho sub-contract system, • For over «> month; .the men at Waihi and Reefton have been out, and now find .themselves not only up against the Employers' Federation, but up against the power of legalised coercion ranging itself on the, side of tho wealthy mine-owners. We enclose herewith a copy of the manifesto of the/ Federation of Labor on the situation, and without enlarging upon the difficulties facing us, urgently and' earnestly appeal to your union for financial assistance. Tho miners of New Zealand have nevej: been backward in aiding tho unionists of Australia in theiir battles, and thus they more confidently seek the financial co-operation of Australian unionists, equally concerned in the protection and preservation of the groat-'Labor movement in fellowship and common cause.—For tho Executive, P. C. Webb (president), R. Semple (organiser). J. Glover (secretary). E. Cnnham (transport workers), P. Fraser (general laborers), H. T. Armstrong (co-operative workers). AV. E. Parry (gold- miners), J. Dowgray (coal miners)." Christchurcli. June 11.

Shipping was hung up for two hours at Lyttelton this morning while the waterside workers discussed the Wathi strike. They derided, to vote £IOO to the strike fund and also to levy 2s 6d per week. Waihi. Jun<» 11. Mr IT. P. Bm-iv, .superintendent of the Waihi Goldminiug Company, interviewed with regard 1 to the statements' aiient the formation of the.Waihi EngincdriveTs' Union made by Mr Howard.. President of the CanitWlmry General Laborers' Union, gave a.n emphatic denial to Mi- Howard's assertion til at a new union had' been formed by the employers. Mr Barry, proceeding, said: "I had no knowledge of 'who .was getting up the new union-, and did not know the uuion was being formed except from what I saw in the newspapers." As to the superintendent or someone in .authority arranging the meeting at which the new union was formed, Mr Barry said : : <; I never heard a single mention of the meeting being held or who' held it, and had no communication with anyone on the subject either verbally or in writing. With regard to Mr Howard's assertion that matters connected with the early stages of the formation of the new union canio from the Superintendent's office, Mr Barry said: "This is an'absolute fabrication and there is not a word of truth in it." - . "•• '