STRIKE AT WAIHI

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 274, 16 May 1912, Page 5

STRIKE AT WAIHI

THE LABOR ASPECT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Yesterday. Mr. Fraser, president of the General Laborers' Union, in an interview, said that so far the federation had no official notification of the Waihi strike, but there was not the slightest doubt that affiliated unions would support the Waihi members in the attitude taken up. No course was open to them except to strike. In his opinion it would ba found that there was more behind the trouble than appeared. Different unions in one industry could not be tolerated. Fifteen men could form a union under the Arbitration Act, but it was impossible to allow fifteen men to dictate to fifteen hundred. Affairs industrial in New Zealand generally were regarded by union officials as very unsatisfactory in many respects. Frequent cases of victimisation were reported from many quarters. There was a possibility of the present trouble extending. The Waihi miners could rest assured of the solid support of unionists throughout the Dominion.

THE TOWN AT A STANDSTILL. A SERIOUS POSITION. Waihi, Last Night. The town is quiet. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday afternoon to consider the borough's position with regard to the strike. The Mayor said that if the strike continued he did not see how the Council could carry on in the matter of ways and means. The town clerk said that he understood the bank was 'willing to finance the sanitary and gas services if they were reduced to the barest necessities. The general opinion of councillors was that the strike would last some time. It was decided that all maintenance and formation hands be discharged, including the foreman and all the gasworks hands, except those absolutely necessary. All carters, stoneworkera and co-operative contractors are also to be put oil. The sanitary service is to be retained and also the library. It was decided that the street lamps should be put out at 11 p.m., to conserve the gas supply. It was reported that the warehouses had decided to restrict the credit of Waihi tradesmen, and the latter will demand cash over the counter for all goods. It is understood that the matter of the strike is now practically in the 'hands of the Federation of Labor. It is quite on the tapis that all the unions under the Federation will be implicated. , As the borough cannot continue its payments to the hospital, an appeal will be made to the Government for help. The hospital is full. The union is preventing the carriage of material to both the mines and the batteries. Pickets are prevailing on the starters to stop work. The Grand Junction has its machinery at the station, but is unabfe to remove" it. The strike continues to be conducted' in an orderly manner. Frequent meetings of the union officials are being held.