DUNEDIN STRIKE COMMITTEE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14838, 2 December 1913, Page 8

DUNEDIN STRIKE COMMITTEE.

BOUND OVER TO KEEP THE

PEACE.

(IPECIAI. TO "THB TEESS.") DUNEDIN, December 1. The Police Court was crowded this morning when tho six members of the local Strike Committee—Robert Miller, Alexander May, James Pendergast, William John Dwight, Joseph Moorehead, and John Guffen—were brought before 3lr J. R. Bartholomew. S.M. The chargo preferred against them set forth that "on November 24th, at Dunedin, they did send for a certain person. Richard Ibbotson, when he was working on tho wharf, and did then urge upon him not to continue to work on tho wharf or to continue to be a special constable, and did give him a signed and sealed safe-conduct pass protecting him from assault, on consideration of him not working, and did order him not to leave the room until ho divulged tho name of the person who advised him to be a special constable, and that from that and other threats and conduct used by them, he is afraid that they will do him bodily harm, and therefore prays that they may bo required to keep the peace and be of good behaviour to him.'*_ Mr A. C. Hanlou and Mr Hay defended. '• __ , , Mr Fraser, Crown Prosecutor, in outlining the case for the prosecution, detailed how Ibbotson had been sent for by the Striko Committeo, and what happened when he reached the Watersido Workers' office. He was asked it he was a special constable. He replied that ho was, and then the spokesman asked him if he had Deen persuaded to become a special constable, and he said ho had. As a matter of fact he had not been, but perhaps he thought discretion the better part of valour. Ho was then asked to give the name of tho person who persuaded him. He refused to give the name, and then, Miller (chairman of this coterie)* said in a menacing, tone: "I suggest that you need not leave tho ■ room until you do." Ibbotson replied: "You are trying to intimidate mo," and. Miller replied, still in a menacing tone, "Do not start bluffing." A paper was put before him and he was asked to /sign it. He refused at first, but ultimately he agreedl to sign, and then he asked for the usual safe conduct pass against violence, which was given. Tho Committee then prepared a document headed "Dunedin Waterside Workers' Industrial Union of Workers,.—-Good "faith agreement." What Ibbotson sighed was to the effect that he, would not return to work carried on by "scab" labour, "and that he would persuade others not to do so. The document added:—"Should the bearer be attacked or assaulted by any person or persons thinking v him to be a free labourer, kindly, refrain from so doing on production of this agreement." In making this application on behalf of Ibbotson he (Mr Frasor) did it in the sense that it was a perfectly fair application.' This man mu6t be protected from these unlawful persons. Mr Fraser said that he made the application himself and took the full responsibility - that warrants should-be issued for the arrest of these persons, instead of an ' application bysummons. He did so becauso ho believed that if summonses had been issued in these cases, the witnesses, would not have been in a condition. to come to court that morning. The defendants were members of a band of cowardly bullies and hooligans, who Wore terrorising this community, and ho asked that they all be bound over -to keen •the peace. ... . '

Tho_two witnesses for the prosecution. I-*eat and I bbotson, were subjected to a severe cross-examination by Mr __ a _ _?' •*° m his defence contended that tho cases should bo dismissed on the ground that it had not been proved that the defendants had been guilty of throats or intimidation. All the defendants, together with J. E. MacManus, of the General Labourers Union, who was present when Ibbotson was in the Strike Committee's rooms, gave evidence. The defendants said that the members' had been toM not to use violence, and so far as they -were concerned, Ibbotson "was safe to work on the wharf. His. Worship preferred to. take the evidence of tho prosecution. He bound the accused over to keep tho peace for six months each in his own recognisan T_i° " ail< * one surety of £50. Ibbotson. in his ovidence, said that when he was told by Peat if ho left off "«*ork ho. would be safe to leave tho wharf unmolested, said he thought it was advisable to do so, in view of Peat's condition. Peat had a blackened eye, a blackened cheek, and a cut ear, and was minus thrco teeth. Tho hearing lasted till 7 p.m.