THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1558, 30 September 1912, Page 6

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

9 A MASS MEETING. f SPEECHES ON CLYDE QUAY. i "Waihi Strikers Must Be Released," in : bold red letters on a white calico strcamj er, was the shield behind which the Fed- . oration of Labour leaders discoursed lo a [ crowd of people in Clyde Quav yesterday i afternoon. The speaker* included Mr. [ Payne, M.P., Mr. 0. 0. Eurland, Mrs. • Leach (of Waihi), Mr. Eraser (of tho - Socialist organisation), and Mr. liobt. t .Semple. Tho speeches were of the type I to which the Wellington public has in a - measure become used from supporters ! of the federation. Mr. Semple told the ; crowd that Mr. Massey "knew as much ; about political economy as a crayfish," i and that he could pick up hundreds of • clean-faced boys' who could tie him (Mr. ■ Massey) up in. a few seconds in an argument on political economy or science., : With tho aid of a choice selection of epi-' , thets he heaped insults on the boys who ! submitted to wear tho uniform "of the , Territorials, and belauded the "brave lad- - dies" who had stuck out'against the. Ter- ■ ritorial movement. In describing a visit i to "poor old Bill Parry" in the Auckland Gaol, Mr. Semple gave the crowd a capii tal impression of ability as a character ■ comedian, by "taking off" the warder who was standing by on duty during the interview. In the course of his remarks, Mr. i Payne, M.P., stated that when organised > Labour succeeded in getting a majority into the House,' "workman's justice , would bo meted out in the Courts, and , then, and only then, no magistrate would be given secret instructions to impose the full penalty of the law on strikers. At present the Courts dispensed Capitalist justice, not workman's justice. Mrs. Leach referred to the "beautiful i policemen in their blue coats and shiny ■ buttons," as shirkers, not workers. V During the proceedings the Waterside i Workers' Brass Band discoursed music 'a few yards away with the best of intcn- ' tions, but interfering considerably with > some of the speakers. , A resolution expressing sympathy with the strikers in gaol, and catling for their release was passed on a show of hands. , Another meeting was held in the Opera . House last evening. "UNFOUNDED AND FARCICAL." (Bj Tclcerapb.-Press Association.) I Auckland, September 28. Mr. Rhodes, managing director of the Waihi Company, says Mr. Sample's statement regarding employment of Kaffir i miners is unfounded and farcical.