WAIHI MINE RESTARTED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 33, 2 October 1912, Page 6

WAIHI MINE RESTARTED.

(Per Press Association.) Wailii, October 2.

The opening of the Waihi mine this morning was, contrary to general expectation, practically without incident. Crowds of men and women lined the mine entrances, but beyond booting the men who went hack to work and calling them “scabs,” the crowd’s behaviour called for no comment.

Following is the official statement supplied by Mr Rhodes, attorney of the Waihi Company: “A start of work after twenty weeks’ idleness was made this morning by the Waihi Gold-min-ing Company with 192 men of all ranks, including miners, drivers, mechanics, blacksmiths, tramway men, labourers, battery hands, tally clerks, office force, and staff. This is exceedingly satisfactory and far better than public opinion had foreshadowed, and shows again how far from accurate was the idea of Semple and party that the company would be powerless to recommence operations with any minors 1 . This does not include any men at Horahora, at the electric power station, or on the electric transmission line, which comprise probably 135 more. The total force on pay is therefore now 327.” v Later. Atn official announcement was made this morning relative to the contracts that were in hand when the strike commenced, to the effect that all contracts which were not manned this morning have been cancelled. - , . ; ; ; ; if . ■ ; vl .-it- U : Lktest. ?■ .1 ’'.M'r Charles Rhodes, ' attorney for the Waihi Cdnipany, said’; “Tam 1 well pleased" with, the response made to-day. I believe it ‘is a good augury for the future successful working of the mine. The loss has been - considerable,Hrut there -was aYGhnportant principle at stake—the right of men to think and act for themselves. So long as what we did was constitutional .ahd in- full accordance with law, I am hopeful other men, after a calm * and 'cafeftil review of the'ji&itibri, will decide to adopt the same course as those who have returned to, and will return to, work.” Asked as to the position of the contracts formerly existing, Mr Rhodes said: “The contracts of all those who to-day did not .respond to tho company’s offer to them to resume work will be cancelled. The company cannot go back, but must go on. We endeavoured to make as fair a proposal as we could to the men when we offered them a resumption of their contracts without any penalties, and we thought w r c had dealt with thorn in liberal spirit. I am sorry that.the contractors did not resume to-day, but am hopeful that with further mature consideration and assurance ample protection will be available to enable them to carry out the work. I hope that further additions will be made to our working staff to-day. There are men working in various departments, and we arc confident a number will be gradually added to. We do not seek to penalise men in any way. Our action throughout the whole dispute proved that but liberty of thought and action can surely be claimed by any man, and, backed up by forces of law and order, it is, to be hoped this unfortunate dispute will soon be ended and work resumed as heretofore.”