The Miners' Union Hall

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1415, 28 August 1905, Page 2

The Miners' Union Hall

V Official Opening , Tub oflioill oponing of the new Miners, Union Hall took place on Saturday night, the event bW marked by a smoke cod'. cert. The interior of the largo and"wellappointed biilding was furnished with three table/laden with a goodly supply of refreshments. Two of tbe tables ran parallel wilu\each other extending the whole lon°th of the hall.'whilo the third was 'placed acro*<? the boll at the stage end. A brilliant Water-gas light was provided from a scorolor more of jets. There was only a fair attendance whon the proceedinnr, commenced, but as the evening wont on the numbers swollod until there mast have been considerably over two hundred present. . At the end table were seated the President of the Union (Mr J, Newtb), officers ot tho Woikino branch, His Worship tbe Mayor (lit T. Gilmour), Messrs B. E. Williams (general manager of the Waihi G.MCo.), T. Johns, (manager, of tho Waihi Extended Mine), C. L.. Clarke, (soevetary of tfaa School of Mines) H. T. Armstrong, J. E. Slevto, (secretary) and othor officers of the Union, The Prosidont occupied the chair, and after the toast of " The King" bad been duly honoured the evening's, entertainment proceeded merrily. '.' The Chairman prefaced his remarks by extending a hejwty welcome to the guests and all present. Be said he was sorry that the funofcion that night should have clashed with otbors in the town, referring more particularly to the annual re-union of the Waihi School of Minos. But. notwiilHtnnding _ the counter attmotibns, it was gratifying to see so many present. He was aware that there were many in tho hall that night who had assisted in the foundation of more than one Miners' Hall in the peninsular. Tho speaker then proceeded to give some particulars in connection with tho buildinc they woro in. Tho Uilion, in tho first place, had purchased the property, for 1550, and they had since expended a further sum of £7OO, -making a total o( £1250. Thus it was that the present up-to-date building, which was a,credit to the Union, had cost tbeni i 1250. The Union, Bince it had severed its connection with the Thames threo yean ago, had expendod £lsßl. During th porio thoro had .been eight fatal accidents, for which had been paid. Ho did not propose making a long speech, in fact his voico was io bad through illness that it was only with difficulty ho was able to speak at all; but be would like to,say a few words on tho Union and its relative position with tho mining, companies, It had been askoi!, what woro tho benefits of Unibuism ? The results of tho working of thoir own Union during the past few years was a sufficient answer. Ho did not see why a Onion should run against the emp'oyer. Both could, and should, work together harmoniously, Ihe Arbitration Court, he contended, was both a serviceable and useful institution. He was aware thatthero were some who disagreed with|lriQron that point, Ho thought thatjdisputes were too frequently ' referred to6s arbitration, rendoring unnecessary expohie\ and the better plan ■was to settle matters in dispute amicably between tbe partios tbemselyes, without resorting to tho Arbitration Court. Ho would now ask the Mayor to open the hall! The Mayor said he'.'was ploascd and honoured to be a guest thove that night. Ho had just heard'from, tho previous speaker that there wero many present who had assisted in the erection of Miners', Union halls in the province. He' oould endorse this, as he, too, reoognised faces prosont that had agisted in such work, Tho presont building reflected credit on the Minors' Union and the members themselves. It was a Goo building, and ono that was very muoh wanted in Waihi. He would now declare the hall duly openod. (App'aude), ~,".' Tho Chairman, in proposing the toast to'! Hh Worship the Mayor," referred to that gentleman's long and honoured connection with the mining development of tho Thames Goldfields, There wero many present in th,o hall who had grown greyhorded in pursuit of mining under Mr, Gilmour. He himself was ono of them. Ho would ask them to charge thoir glasses and drink heartily to the toast. Tho Mayor, in responding, said that he had always endeavoured to do bis duty to his fellow-man, and ho had never asked a man to do a thing which ho himself would not havo undorlakon. Ho considered it was right that a man should bo given credit for work where crodit was caraod. That; encouraged a man to do .hotter. Ho could will the limo when he was a shift boss on the Thames, and how often ho was nearly being unmnnned by the criticism of the manager on tho work ot tho mon under hiii, Such a romark as " Yory little.work has beon donoto day," when tho uieti had dono thoir host, was discouraging, and took the heart out of a man.' This had often boon his experience at the Thames. He bolioved in every man doing bis duty, and in its performance showing that ho took a live interest in it, Indiflereuoe as to how work was done w*.s not calculated to ( keop men in thoir jobs, Ho conoluded by thanking thoso present for tho hearty, mauuer in which they had drunk his hoaltli. Mr, Mcßaughton proposed" Tho Libe* ral and Labour Federation of Now Zealand," coupled with the names of Mr f Donaldson (President of the ■ Waihi Branch) and' Mr. Koohan (President of the Waikino Branch). , Mr. Donaldson, in responding, explained

that the branch had only been in existent, a few months, and that that was the OrW ccoasion on which he had boon askod *™ at cud any spocial function on brhalf df the institution, and he was pleased and honoured to jba present at such an important gathering of the Workus' and Minora' Union. If tbo Liberal and Labour Loaguo were lo be a success, whioh ho hoped it would, (hey would liavo to eombiuo.' Organisation was osEontial in tho boßt interests of tho workers. This was obvious to all thinking tnon of the world. When tho intervals of tho capitalists wore assailed tlioy combined to bolp uud protect tbemsolvos. Tbo speaker referred at some length to the present Government, and spoko on the grand results which had ncoruod to the colony through the paesinp of Libtral laws, Personally, ho would co miles ahead of tho present Liberal and Libour Federation platform, but tlioy luustbs reasonable, and tbo pngrcss must be in accordance with the condition of things as' they now existed. Ho predicted a tiuio ' when they would hnvo a branch of tbe Loa<;ue in overy town in No,v Zealand.

Mr Keohan (Prosidont of the Waikino branch), thanked Iho company for tho hearty uiannor. in which they had drunk ■ the toast, Mr Donaldson hud left nothing for h'.in to say. Ho would ondorse all that had been said In proposing " The Borough founoil," *L • Mr D. Robertson inndo somo .facotiousPf | remarks on tho way tho Council conducted the' business, and said \ that they woro tho best employers ■ i" Iho town. They worked their emi ploycos >l7 to 48 ho'ufs a wrek, whilo tho I mines worked theirs. -15 hours a } week, The foo.paths in the town wore good, but those ' leading to Bnlltown wove in sueh a condition that if thoy led lo heavon fow would have a chance of reaching there. (Laughter.) ' • Mr B. McMillan ropliod, He thought tho ' Council wanted mercy rather than justice. ■ : The road referred to by Mr Robertson a?' leading to 80iBOffliore—~ (a voicoo, • " heaven") would be all right jn good tiiuai ' • "Willi" regard. to.-' th'o ,Boroo{;li emp]oyoo s . ;■: • • , ■ i ■-.-

, they were paid 8s a week move than llie • . mine employees, l Mr, I E. Sloviri, in roapoafling, eaiil ho '-,' was'tbo oldest Councillor present. The Counoil as a wholo had done well for (ho ',' Borough; It :was impossible'(b pleaso ' everybody. At tho same tiino ho know I mistakes had boon made, but that could not b&J^lped. Mr!s. Johnson proposed " Tho Mining Industry," coupled with tho mimes of Messrs, B. E. Williams and T, Johns, Mr Williams, in replying, returned thanks for the hearty manner in which the toast had beon drunk. Ho said fa thought the figures from tho big mine spoke for themselves He took it that everybody presest was moro or loss connected with raining. They would all be • delighted if the reef system ol the Waihi mine were to be found in all the adjoining properties.'. He knew the difficulties attached to tho development of poor mines, and tho necessity for a good class of men, Without good miners, the difficulties wero greatly inoreased;.o .He complimented the Union OB;'their ■ splendid building, It was ; a 'credit.; to any town, I', was gratifyingS'to; hftve tho assurance that good feeling v subsisted between the mino managers and Minors' Union, and ho hoped tho good fooling would always continue, He had met tho Miners' Union oommi'.tes on several occasions to discuss matters, and they weri not backward inasking what they thought they wero ontitled to get, (Applansß.) • Mr. G. Barry proposed " Tho Waikino Branch of tho Waihi Miners' Union," coupled with the names of Messrs. Flatt and Johnson.

BoiK 'gentlemen responded. Mr. Flail said that lie hoped there would bo man) more .'branches, Thoy had experienced much difficulty in fomiing tho Waikino branch, but now i( was in a flourishing condition. They had beon treated wolf by the Waibi Union, and he looked forward to the time l whon W»ikino would have a hall of its own, and he feit sure that 'thoy would be assisted in this object by tho Waihi Union when thoir finances were bettor. He considered that Waihi had a hall which they had every reason tobe proud of. In six months they would have to go before Mr Williams, and . he hoped (hat a conference of all the miners' unions in the peninsula would take place. In anything the Waihi Union took in hand for (ho advancement of unionism the Waikino branch would be bobind them. (Applause). ' Mr H. McCarfchny, in proposing " The Engineers' and Drivers' Union," said that up to th&\ ovening he was not aware that Buoh a union existed, He wondered that (here was not a School Children's Union . by which they coulr 1 regulate the hours . :/or attending school and. fix upon what lessons should be learned. He would ask all present to drink heartily the toast. Mr 6, Armour, in responding, expressed his thanks on behalf of the union, Mr H. T. Armstrong proposed " The Friendly Societies," and referred to the very good results of these organisations, Messrs, Onion, feullivan Lang, and E, ; MoWhirter responded on behalf of tho different local lodges. ■ '■'■ The toast of" The Press" was proposed by the chairman, and duly responded to, During the evoning songs were contribated bv Messrs J, Adams, A. MoNaughton, R, <E,. Williams, J, MoOormiok, F. -..Clarkin, J, Smith, Feenoy, Sullivan, 'Sharkey, Keen and Donovan, fieoitations were given by Messrs Balmer (Waikino), and B. Dundas, a clog' dance. by Mr Ooutts, and a step dance by Mr D. Johnson, Mr T. Gardner presided at tho piano. The evening terminated about 11,30,