IMPRISONMENT OF MINERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15578, 7 October 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

IMPRISONMENT OF MINERS.

THE ONE-DAY (JKNEKAIi STRIKE. AUCKLAND, October 4. 'llio federation demonstration against tlio imprisonment of tlio strikers takes place at Auckland on Thursday next. The watersiders, tramway men, coal miners, general lubourers, and brewery employees are expected to participate. ' WELLINGTON, October 4.

Mr Webb (president of the Federation of Labour) says tho day off for tho Waihi demonstration referred to in an Auckland telegram yesterday, does not necessarily mean 24 liours, hut sufficient time, in the judgment of the individual unions, in which to hold demonstrations. FEDERATION'S ATTITUDE. CANTERBURY UNIONS. ACTION AS TO GENERAL STRIKE. CHRISTCIIURCH, October 4. Mr E. J. Howard (a member of tho executive of tho Federation of Labour) informed ii reporter tonight that tJie members of the unions affiliated to the fedcra--tion wcro anxious that the executive should call a general strike, and he indicated that some difficulty, was being experienced in restraining some of the more eager unions. He added: "We know a thing or two Unit makes it not worth while' calling a general strike at present. All industrial concerns have in hand stocks of coal, and it is only householders that are short. If a general strike is ever called it will be when wool and grain are still in the country."

Regarding Waihi, .Mr Howard stated that the federation in no way has altered its tactics It was only the police who had oone so, nnd they were now refusing to arrest the men. The federation had had telegrams arid letters from all over the dominion from men willing to take the places of those who h:id gone to gaol, and women were also offering. He alleged that the tactics adopted until recently by the police authorities at Waihi were based en a secret report of the Conciliation Commissioners, which tiny submitted to the Hon. W. Massey as Minister of Labour.

"Wo realise," ho continued, "that it is becoming a fight brtwrcn the platform and the press, and we also realise that the platform is going to win all along the line. _ Financially and numerically the federation is stronger than when the' strike began." Ho further alleged that the federation " knew every shadow " that went into the Waihi Company's mine, and it knew that at present there were only four strikers who nave returned to work" The remainder wen men from Wnikino. Mr Howard stated that the total contributions received by the federation for the Wnibi and Reef ton men was now close ution £20.0C0. and the federation rould easily keep the strike going till Christmas, In fact, though the strike pay had been paid out of contributions received, the federation was building up a reserve (mid. "Australia will stand by us." he added, " and awaits word to 'down tools''

As io the suspension of work one day next week as a protest against the iniprisonnient of the Waihi men, he stated that it was only n suggestion to the affiliated .unions, upon which thero was no compulsion to carry out the suggestion, but the federation believed that it would be carried out.

.Seen this morning by a reporter regarding the- suggestion ol the Federation of Labour Executive that the members of those unions affiliated to the federation, and of others who may be in sympathy, should cease work for 2i hours on "a day to be fixed shortly, Mr 11. It. Voyoe. secretary of the Lyttdton Waterside Workers' Union, said he know nothing of the movement beyond what ho had read in tlio morning papers. He slated that ho was communicating with Mr (ilover, secretary of the federation, on the inattor. At S p.m. ho stated that the position was that the whole matter was being left to the discretion of the unions concerned. As far ns the Lyttelton Union was concerned nothing had yet been decided upon, as no meeting of members had been liold to discuss the mutter. lie did not think the meeting would bo he'd to-day, but he thought that in all probability 'thcji.yltelton Union would meet very shortly to 'decide whether it would oraso work, and on which day. He thought that probably ono day next week would bo decided upon. ' Mr A. Paterson. secretary of the Canterbury General Labourers' Union, which is affiliated to the Federation of Labour, stated to a reporter that it was the intention of the members to bold a demonstration next Saturday, and in order to do so work would be suspended for 24 hour*. Ifc was not a strike, siinpjy n holiday for tho purpose of demonstrating against tho imprisonment of the men in connection with the recent distnrlttiic.es at Waihi. In the morning the men would lw addressed, and a procession won'd afterwards march through the streets to Hagley Park. Tho General Labourers' Union is still registered under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, but the secretary did not anticipate tbr.t any action would be taken against tho union'in respect to the "holiday " for tho demonstration. REEFTOX DEADLOCK. FREE LABOITR EXPKCTKD. REEFTON, October 4. Tho Inangahua Miners' Union put out pickets to-day at the railway station, in view of tho oxpeoted invasion of free labour. WELLINGTON, October 4. Sir Arthur Guinness is asking for a copy of the case setting forth the facts submitted to the Solicitor-general for his opinion as to whether the mino-owncrs at Reeftou had created a lock-out, or whether the members of the Inangahua Industrial Union of Workers had created a strike, mid a copy of tho Solicitor-general's opinion upon the case submitted to him. LAKE COLERIDGE WORKS. STRIKE ENDED. WELLINGTON, October 4. The Minister of Works has received a telegram stating that the Wio Coleridge striko has ended.