THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 319, 8 July 1912, Page 2

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

SECRET BALLOT PROPOSED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Saturday. At a meeting of the strikers a letter was read from the Mayor suggesting that a ballot be taken by electors of Waihi Borough, at the expense of the Borough Council, with two issues, in favor of agreement on federation principles or under the Arbitration Act. After considerable discussion, it was decided to give the letter the same treatment as was accorded the union's letter to the council requesting the dismissal of the town clerk and engineer, namely, that it lie on the table. A motion to organise a demonstration in favor of the youths lodged in gaol for breaches of the Defence Act on their return was lost, but individual members were left free to act. A member gave notice to move at a real mass meeting that a secret ballot be taken upon the question of witli- ! drawing from the federation, and though [ there was stormy disapproval, he stood |to his guns and'a meeting will be held ion Monday to consider the notice.

INFORMATION WANTED. WELLINGTON COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE. Wellington, Saturday, Requests having been made by the Sydney and Melbourne Trades and Labor Councils for information of the Federation of Labor's mission to Australia for funds, the Wellington Council has replied that the application was made to it for monetary assistance, but the council replied that it was not prepared to assist in l any way, nor could it recommend affiliated unions to render assistance. The council fee'ls it could not give even moral support to a fight that rt believes to be wrong, the American system of warfare not being suitable in a country where the working man's vote is of tlie same value as that of the managing director of the Waihi mine. The attitude taken by the federation towards industrial legislation has been such that we are now running the risk of losing laws that have greatly improved the condition of many of our workers.

A PEEP FROM INSIDE. IMPRESSIONS OF A VISITOR. NO SIGN OF THE STRIKE ENDING. The Waihi trouble is far from being settled. This is the opinion of a Taranaki resident, who recently visited Waihi, which he describes as gloomy and partially deserted. "The men exhibit no sign of unbending, and their women folk are backing them up. They believe in the justice of their cause (though few outside do), and are labor* ing under the delusion that in striking they are contending for a principle. They have unbounded faith in their leaders and will follow them—so long as relief funds last. When these fail they may come to reason. Over a thousand have left the town and business is practically at a standstill. There is little or no cash about. The merchants have closed down on the traders, and the latters' position is not very enviable. They cannot give credit, and because of this they are "listed" bv the strikers for boycotting when normal conditions return. llt is believed that the trouble will not end with the decision of the miners to return, for then the mine owners may tako hand and start the mines only when it suits their convenience. The miners had been threatening to strike for years, and it is said that they only meant to bluff the owners on this occasion, but the owners took them at their word, to their great surprise. The miners were not at all prepared for a strike, their funds being very low. Although the men earn big money—up to 25s per day, the average being about 14s 6d—they are improvident and never have much monev bv them. The tradespeople are afraid to express their minds about the strike to the strikers, but readily unburden themselves to any one riot connected with the strikers." Our informant was in a barber's shop, when a striker put his head in tile saloon, exclaiming. "Snv. boss, suppose I'm good enough for a filling of baccy?" "I guess you are not," replied the tonsorial gent. "You have not paid me i? you owed me a year ago when I had the shop in the other street. You have never been near me since." The striker promptly relegated the barber to a sultry clime, and strode across to the Union Hall and posted him as an enemy of the strikers. "It doesn't matter, anyhow," resignedly said the barber, as I'm closing down the saloon at the end of the week. There's- no fun in working for nothing, and have to put up with the abuse of the greatest lot of wasters in the country."

j Just after the strike was -declared, a I striker went into a. chemist's shop and | asked for some medicine. The assistant, before handing it over, asked for the money. This was refused by the striker, who black-listed" the chemist in. the I mon Hall, but the chemist interviewed the executive and showed that the individual to whom he had refused credit was already in his debt, and to the credit of the officials let it be said they at once withdrew the chemist's name from the board, and hauled the striker m question severely over the coals for his action.

The mines, as well as some other places, are picqnetted day and night. A visitor desired to sop the driving machines, but he was told that the miners would not permit his entrance. "You know what an hour may bring forth," said one business man to the Taranaki-ite. "gome of the strikers are decent enough, if woefully misled, hut others are of a desperate nature and would stick at nothing. I am prepared for emergencies. See here." And he produced a six-chambered revolver, fully loaded. "One can never tell when it will be required." Whenever work is commenced, it is certain, concluded our informant, that not for many years will Waihi regain the position it occupied before the strike. Property is at a discount, no rents are being paid, confidence in town can never be fully restored, and aenerally Waihi is a very good place to. be out of just now.