THE HUNTLY STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 54

THE HUNTLY STRIKE.

FURTHER ACTION BY DIRECTORS. AUCKLAND, December 2. The following, signed by the manager of the Taupiri mines, has been posted in conspicuous places about Huntly:—“The directors have under consideration the question of working the company’s mine, but until further arrangements for so doing have been completed no additional miners will be employed. In the meantime written applications for employment for underground workers will be received by the manager.” December 3. The directors of the Taupiri coalmines have issued a statement in which they say: “If the company has deliberately picked oiit men for dismissal because of their active interest displayed in trade union matters, why has no attempt been made to prosecute tho company by a very simple and inexpensive process. The whole of the facts could have been elicited and the grievances, if any, of the discharged man fully ventilated. It is significant that no such suggestion has been made by the union. The only inference that can be drawn is that the company has not committed any broach of the Act, nor has it ever been suggested that it lias committed any breach of agreement. What is the cause of the complaint against the company? The onlycause of complaint that remains, then, is that tho company has exercised its undeniable and legitimate right of discharging workers, and in doing so giving due notice, hut giving no reason. Reasons in plenty have been invented and circulated, but no attempt has been made to justify the statements made, although a plain simple way is provided. The "company has no quarrel with unionsim. No sane employer can have. The company had no quarrel with the Miners’ Union at Huntly, nor would have so long as tho terms of the agreement were observed. The union has assorted that tho directors have pursued a policy of “pin-pricking” or “irritations.” This assertion the directors unhesitatingly deny. The directors have, however, contended, and do still contend, for the right to manage their own business, a right which the union seeks to take away, substituting a ballot under union supervision to determine which men in the company’s employ shall be discharged.” The statement then deals in details with allegations of victimisation. December 4. Several days ago the directors of tho Taupiri Company posted a notice at tho mines at Jfumiy intimating that the men would this morning have a final opportunity of returning to work.. This morning when the whistle blew only those who had been working since the strike commenced seven weeks ago put in an appearance. At an early hour the streets were lined with pickets, and there must# have been 200 men posted at various points about the township. Two men who nave regularly attended work were escorted to the mine gates by a fairly largo crowd, but nothing was said. At eight o'clock a large crowd collected in the street outside Ralph’s mine, and when it was found that no fresh men had started work a cheer went up. There was a largely-attended meeting of the men on striae last night. It is understood that the proceedings were of a somewhat lively nature. The question was put as to whether anyone present proposed to start work this morning. Everyone replied in the negative, and arrangements were made for the picketing this morning as described. PROPRIETORS PREPARING FOR WORK. AUCKLAND. December L A largely-attended meeting of the numbers of tho Huntly Miners’ Union was held yesterday. The principal speaker was Mr P. H. Hickey, secretary of the Federation of Labour. Ho congratulated the men on the linn stand they were making, an<J said that all hands wore standing steady. Tho minors and seamen, he said, held the key to the position, and they would fight on. The speaker expressed himself in favour of tho settlement of the trouble by arbitration, and suggested that Sir Joshua Williams was the man to whom the whole matter should be referred. It is evident from tho preparations nowbeing made that it is intended to work the Taupiri Co.’s mines at an early date. Notices were to-day posted in conspicuous places notifying trespassers that they will bi prosecuted. At the Extended Mine a strong barbwire fence is in course of erection. At Ralph's mine also iron and wire fences are being erected.