THE BLOW TO WAIHI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3536, 29 May 1912, Page 6

THE BLOW TO WAIHI.

IT WILL TAKE YEARS TO RE-

COVER!

A SERIOUS POSITION.

MINE-OY/NERS’ FIRM ATTITUDE

By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.

AUCKLAND, May 28

A telegram received from A) aihi this afternoon says that everything is very depressed there to day owing to the wet weather and to a feeling of uncertainty which prevails relative to the strike.

Alessrs Parry, Temple, and Armstrong will arrive this evening and a mass meeting has been convened for 8 o’clock. I understand that conferences will he held with a view to settlement. Further information in this connection may he available to-morrow. It is now evident, in the face of the Federation’s manifesto, that a prolonged (struggle will ensue between the Aline-owners’ Association and the Federation. From a AYaihi point of view the main result will be a great depletion of the population, as it is understood that the mine-owners have no intention of opening the mines while the strike continues, even if the water flows out of the adit levels. Though the strike has only been in existence a fortnight numbers of the men. including residents with homes of their own, are becoming restless and have already commenced to dribble out of the town. What, if the strike continues for three months? , It is evident that when the mines reopen after a protracted period of idleness probably not more than half the original number of men will be employed. There is little doubt that the town has received a blow from which it will take years to properly recover. AN OUTCOME OF THE STRIKE.

The present industrial uncertainty has led to a unique development in the shape of a coal famine in Cambridge. Local coal mercants’ supplies having been completely denuded, it is impossible at the present time to purchase coal, and householders whose stocks are exhausted are being greatly inconvenienced. 'The explanation given is that, fearing a strike of the Huntly miners, farmers and private residents bought increased quantities and the collieries have not kept pace with merchants’ orders.

THE FEDERATION’S MANIFESTO. Mr Charles Rhodes (president of the New Zealand Gold Mine-owners’ Association), having perused the manifesto issued by the Federation of Labor, was asked to discuss the principal point. He said that obviously the intention of the Federation of Labor was to disguise the- present position at Waihi by stating that it is. a fight between organised employers and organised workers. “To whatever the Federation of Labor may design to lead the present trouble,” he continued, “the fact remains that till now the employers at Waihi have had nothing to do with it, blit wait the will of the strikers. They have stood absi lately aloof from the whole matter hoping that the two factions would soon settle their differences- Of course in all such cases new issues crop up and distortions arise which make a settlement more and more difficult and the very aloofness of the employers appears to have led to a charge of “union smashing,” though not the slightest attempt has yet been made by the companies to do anything of the sort. On the contrary they have all conformed with the prefer-ence-to-unionists’ clause.”

THE EMGINEDRIVERS FIRM

(Abridged from Press Association Messages). WAIHI, May 29.

A delegation from the Federation of Labor, including Messrs Parry and Armstrong was received by representatives of the Enginedrivers’ Union.

After appealing to the men to consider the advisableness of returning to the Miners’ Union the delegates received a reply that the new union could not be broken up.