INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

West Coast Times, 27 June 1912, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE WMHI TROUBLE. FEDERATION - LABOUR’S POSITION. INTERVIEW WITH MR. ROBERTSON, M.P. [pqt- ASSOCIATIONCOPY R10..1. ,

AUCKLAND, June 25. Mr. J. Robertson, the Labour Member for Otaki, in an inteniew with reference to the W aihi strike and the position of the Federation of Labour in the matter, said that the Arbitration Act as a moans of settlement in disputes had proved, in many years, unsatisfactory. It had done a good deal towards raising the sL’jidard of living, but could not pro- •; jy the means of raising the actual standard once it was laid (hxvrn. The Federation cf Lain adopting the constitution of the Independent Worl.eis of the World, however, conveyed the impression that they had set their minds against using any means except those of industrial revolt and its concomitants .of strike, .turmoil, etc.

ijjnch could he said in justification of ihe objection of the It aihi Miners Union to the existence of a separate union within the area in which it v

the paramount organisation; but its object could have been attained without resorting to a strike. As a matte.- of fact, tjie strike was entered upon without the consent of the Federation Executive. Had the matter first gone before that body, lie did not believe a strike would ever have taken place. The Executive showed weakness in not repudiating the precipitate action of the Waihi Union, and thereby maintaining discipline within its ranks. Instead, it made Ut3 tactical blunder of countenancing tho strike and involving the very existence of tho Federation. Hie result had lieen that tho loyalty of many affiliated unions had been considerably strained, and a request for financial assistance might be the means of proving that their loyally wis reaching a breaking paint. Thu United Labour Party, whde recognising the need for industrial or - ganisation, believed that political action must go hand in hand with industrial activity, and that tho greatest victories for the workers in tho immediate future would lie von on tho political field.

A DESPERATE SITUATION

“I.ABOUR AND CAPITAL TO RI.VK TOC ETHER.”

It seems to have been faintly liopW at Wailu that the recent conference might result in some arrangenrent being arrived at, by which work could be resumed, but now that that he pc has proved fallacious, the men are faced with a situation that grows daily more depressing. A heal correspondent asserted that, as a consequence, it was believed that within the next week (this was written last Wednesday) a hundred men would leave Waihi with their families and their household goods. “Tho most optimistic do not venture to suggest that the strike will cud until October or November, ami within the next few weeks tho town will be almost deserted.” We are told of households being dismantled in all directions, of fifteen shops being closed in the main street, and of three of the largest hoarding-house, suspending operation •. One cf the strikers’ leaders is rept.Tsd as saving that he knew I lie men must surrender in the end. but they would not cry ■■enough” without a bitter struggle. “The capitalists are trying to drown ns,” he declared, “but we shall drug them down with ns.” Strike pay ranges from 15s a week for single men to .‘los for married men with live children. THE WAUGH POPPER. HEW IT IS WORKED OX THE RANT). A gentk'pian, who has spent a Maple of years on the Rand, is at present visiting Grey mouth. ITom him, a “Star” representative gleaned some information in regard to the working of the Waugh poppers on the South African goldfields. The popper, said the Star’s informant, weighs about 721b and has been in use in the South African mines for a considerable time past. By its use, •t was possible to work the low-grade ores which otherwise wotdd have to lie neglected. In South Africa a nigger worked one machine, a battery of, say, three or four poppers being under tho control of a white overseer, who did the blasting. There was, in his opinion, absolutely no necessity for two men to work the drill which was simplicity itself. In Africa, a nigger easily operated the drill and the spray. He added that he Ijad personal knowledge of the conditions obtaining in the Rpefton mines and he could see no reason whatever trfiy the dfill should not lie operated by one mqn. The minors’ contention tfiat it would be unsafe and a menace to their lives to do so was absurd Any practjeal miner should be able to satisfy himself whether his working place was safe or not. In any case, if oi}e could not do this, how could two?

Comparing New Zealand and Smith Afiica he faid that the conditions obtaining in this Dominion were undoubtedly vastly superior to those on the Rand. Here the minors did not have to work in cramped places; he bad actuajly .seen men in Africa lying on their back securing tiie ore. Then again, at Rcefton the reef was a wet one upd did not cause half as much dust as that which was experienced on the dry reefs on the Rand. In other respects the New Zealand miner was inuoh better off than tfie men in South Africa. So far as |ie ccnld see, the Reefton miner had very little genuine cause to complain of the conditions under whicji he laboured.