AT DUNEDIN.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14837, 1 December 1913, Page 7

AT DUNEDIN.

ARREST OF THE STRIKE COMMITTEE.

CHARGE OF INTIMIDATORY CONDUCT. (rasss _s3ocuTto_ tewqbax.) DUNEDIN, November 29. - Tho most sensational coup ia tbo, hh tory of the strike in Dunedin'" was effected by tho police at noon to-d»y, when Robert Miller, Jamee : gast, Alex. May, Wm. John Dwight, ; Joseph Moorohead, aud John Griff od, who compose the Strike Committee, wore arrested on a chargo of alleged in--timidatory conduct. .'_'■- About noon Superintendent Dwyer approached tho Rattray street wharf, and immediately upon ret .it.-ing intimation Chief-Detective Herbert and; Detective Ward stepped into ' the watersiders* cubicle, where the com- . mittee wero arranging the uaiou finances for relief pay. Tho men wero informed that they wero under arrest, and took tbe news calmly. A* few minute, wero granted them to complete . tho arrangements interrupted, by the'entrance of tho detectives, and then they walked out quietly, accompanied only by tho two arresting officers, though others wero available if need arose. ~ Tho chargo preferred against the men' set forth that on November 24th, at Dunedin, "They did send for a certain . person (named) when he was working on tho wharf, and did then urge, him. not to continue to work on tho wharf, or to continue to bo a special constable, and did give hira, signed and sealed, a - safe conduct pass protecting him from assault on consideration of him not working, and did order him not to leave tho room until ho bad divulged tho ■'. name of the person who advised him to ~. bo a special constable, and that from that and other threats and conduct used by them.ho is afraid that they will do _t_l". bodily harm, and, therefore, prays that thoy may be required to keep tho peace ana be of good behaviour to .am."."'.-.'•.,'•_-■' A Court was constituted in Saperin* Stendent Dwyer's office this afternoon, v • Mr M. Fraor, . J.P., presiding. ■■'■> Mr '-..--' Fraser, K.C., prosecuted, and Mr-W .'.'. G. Hay represented tho aeoused.,* Mr '• .'. Fraser asked for a remand until .Mot. .■.*.■ day morning at 10 o'clock. .Mr Hay;'-;"..; said these men hod good cause to alleg* ;; why they should not be bound over '.t_''i-■ . keep the peace, and in the ci.rcan. "v" ; stances he would ask that haU __. - . allowed. As far as he understood the position, these wero respectable- men {'■'}-:' with families, and they wanted to get : •; home. _, ...- ■-. "

Mr Fraser said ho must s_re-_o_»]y oppose bail. Tho very fact thnt accused were under arrest on a warrant granted by a Stipendiary Magistrate took < the matter out of tho hands of the adjudicating justice. Counsel had to ask . with a full sense of reaponribility, that in the interests of justice the accused persons be kept in enstodv until they were bound over to keep the peace. Tho Jnstico hcla that in th« circumstances he could not grant bail, and the men were remanded in custody until Monday morning.