WAIHI AT WORK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1561, 3 October 1912, Page 7

WAIHI AT WORK.

MINES RE-OPENED. DEMEANOUR OP STRIKERS, HOOTS AND CHEERS. STRONG FRONT BY POLICE. (Br Teleeraph.-Prese Association.) Waihi, October 2. .'Dio "following" tactics ofslrikers nnil women when (ho men went to work this morning wcro very persistent. A batch of workers, numbering about fourteen, started off under police escort from the Central Hotel. Meanwhile ft number of men and women had congregated in the vicinity of the hotel, and as tho workers slipped on to tho pavement, they were assailed with n volley of epithets such as "scabs," "traitors," etc., from women as well as from men. Part Assigned to the Women, Tho women adopted a much more aggressive attitude than their male associates. Tho police (under. Sergeant Millar) who formed the escort also canio in for a good donl of abuse. Expressions «uch as "You blue-coated scabs" were hurled at them by both men and women. Tho latter closed in on the police and workers in such a way ns to cause tho police some little bother in getting along. One of tho women, bolder than the rest, made a mild attack on Sergeant Miliar, who turned instantly, and demanded her name. Sho immediately denied having committed an assault, oud a chorus of voices took up the cry that there was no assault. Tho procession was headed by women bearing a banner, and hundreds of nonworkers had tickets attached to their hats with the inscription: "Remember Waihi and the jailed strikers," while numbers of women bore placards inscribed "Don't be traitors to your class." Tiro women stood in the footpath opposite I\"o. 5 shaft with a banner, on which was printed "YVorkfrs of tho World, Unite." After a while they pro--ceetled along singing, and occupied a rise on tho road which passes the Grand Junction Mine. They were followed by about fifty of the women folk, who; after ascending the rise, sang with much vigour "The lied Flag." Tho banner was then transferred to the mounted pickets, who .cantered through the town two abreast with the emblpin uplifted. Scarcely had the sound of the mine whistle died away when a shout went up from tho group of non-workers: "Tho masters are calling us to work, but we're not going." "And not likely to this side of Christmas," added some of those standing round. Throughout the day knots of both sexes gathered in tho streets, and cheering and boo-hooing took placo at short intervals, as something turned up which cither pleased or annoyed the gatherings. The demonstrations on the men coining off shift this afternoon were of a much more pronounced character than in tho morning, and, but for tho adequate protection of tho police, it would have been difficult to predict what might have hap- . pened. Men, women, and youths shouted and screeched till they were hoarse. The noise at times was almost deafening. Caught and Arrested. ' A youth throw a stone amongst the workers who were being escorted to their homes. Police Commissioner Culleii happened to witness the net, and,'in a moment, he seized the culprit, and handed him over t6 the custody of two constables. A number of school cadets took up n stand at a spot whero the workers passed down tho track of the company's property, and, on the appearance of the latter, they gave them three hearty cheers. In two or three instances the wives of tho escorted workers met their husbands at the gate, facing hundreds of hooting and screeching: men and women. Tho news received here to-night that twenty-five men (eighteen of- whom arc experienced miners) have been sent from Auckland by tho Waihi Company is not credited by the strikers. . ' The feeling against the company and those who resumed work to-day is intense, and thfi "followins-un tactics" of to-day, are to be continued. The Strike Committee contend that only four members of their union have resumed work. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (By Tclceraph.--Si)ccial Correspondent.) Auckland, October 2. The following official statement was made this morning by Sir. Charles Kliodca (managing director of the Waihi Company) ;— "A start at work, after twenty weeks of idleness, was made'. this morning by the Waihi Company with. 192 men of all ranks, including miners, drivers, mcohanics, blacksmiths, (rainway men, labourers, battery hands, tally clerks, office force, and staff. This is exceedingly satisfactory. It is far better than public opinion had foreshadowed, and shows again how far from accurate was the iden of Mr. Semple and his party .that the company would ho powerless to recommence operations with any miners. This does not include any men at Horahora, nt the power station, or on tho electric transmission line— probably' 1,15. more. The total force on pay is therefore now 327. "Waihi Rose Early." "VTaihi rose early this morning «o as to miss nothing of the experience of feeing what it was to attempt to brook a strike. Members of the Minem' Union were out: in force in good time to be on picket duty .by half-past six. tin's timo having been secretly arranged yesterday. I'olice Commissioner Cnlleii , * men worn about just sufficiently early to effectively foil any move to which exception could be taken. Women, gh-ls, and bovs calm* out later in scores to show themselves loyal Fodorationists and a good man) townspeople also assembled oil the oitchanco of seeing some excitement. Shortly after 5 o'clock thero was a noticeable movement about the. stnects, (ho only earlier incident being the departure of throo or four brakes to Karaiigahako to bring along sympathisers from that mining centre.

Police Morning Muster. "Shortly after fi there was n noticeable muster of police nt theVlatiori, nearly 80 magnificent specimens of physical fiuiesfi beiuir on pnrnde. They lnnrchcd off in squads, under Senior Sergeant. M'Kinnon nnd Sergeant (of Wellington), Sergeniit Miliar (of Clirislchureh), SerBennt Birk (of Auckland), and Scrijehnt Wohlninnn (of Waihi) to take up duties at stations wliero the strike pickets had expected to have- all their own way. Tho strikers were outmanoeuvred at every point, nnd in ono case at least, the prosonc<! of the jiolice was recognised bv a striker declaring to his companions 'This is no good lo us! Get out of it. , : "By 7 o'clock there were fully a opuplo of hundred men, including yoiinif girls, assembled in groups, and p'aiariing thu road along the frontage of tho mining property, but no attempt was inadY by anybody to trespass on the mine land. One group of w;bmeli bore in front of them a double-poled banner of the Federation Hed, and bearing tho words "Workers of the World, Unito!" Most of tlio women displayed red ribbon, and many of them wove placards, inscribed'"Don't lx> traitors to your class," "Industrial solfdnrity will open prison gate"," and oilier m-ticle's of the federation «re«d. They clieercxl aiul hooted hysterically as the call was given at spasmodic intervals. When' about n hundred men arrived from Karaug.ihake, they wcro creeled with cheers, and marched alone the street, to the. great admtraiion of the women. Aβ time wore on the crowd concentrated tt the cornet ot Barn. Road wid Qrei

Street, In front of No. 5 shaft. The NV 2'enatt, which is in nctivo ojiera.tio)l in connection with the opening of the mine, lies further up f.lio hill (o Ihe back of No, 5. At ill biegtst tho crowd swelled to eight or nine hundred .strong. ,"..' Eicortlng the/Men to'.Work.-.. ;.\ Some of (ho intending workers' worn at tho shaft very curly, ami escaped nttempte at conversion. As others cume in they were escorted by the poliou (with tho ban-ner-bearing women pressing iiiiiiicdiiitely behind) through lines of hooting strikers, the screams of the women mingling with ** the tigerish groans of'the , men, The im' of cries-such, as "traitor" itfld "scab"' were, however, rarely usod, the feeling fur' the most part finding vent in hoots. Tlio biggest donioiistrntiun was mudu whenSergeant Miller escorted-to Hie iuino a'• parly of n dozen Wai kino workers, who, had l>een lodged at the Central Hotel overnight. The bulk of (ho hooting, so far; as the men were concerned, whs ltd Ijy Iho Knr.ingahnke contingent. Ther« win no attempt «t violence. Tho strikers themselves, earlier in the morning, confided: "Every fitrilce lhat has been lost has been by rioting. We have been educated past that, and we've got' (ho company beaten." When some of tlie women showed n tendency to get too cloic to thfi workfrs, a hint from a'scrgeant caused them to fallback hastily, protesting that they had committed no assault. The whole nlfnlr \va» disappointing, as an exciting sjiectaclc, and, but for the noise, would hav» been altogether lame. When the Mine Whittle Blew. ■When tho mine whistle blew at eight ■o'clock the sound was greeted with derisive hooting, The "last incident before the crowd dispersed was the arrival of a train on the company's private line from tho Walkino tottery. Ono truck contained sixteen workmen, and ■ tlioj were received with yells of derision, Tho occasional appearance later of surface laiwurors in tho vicinity of No. 2 shaft was a further occasion for more hooting, but'gradually tho crowd melted away. ' Special mention should bo made of the effective work done by the mounted constables in controlling tho crowd when it showed any tendency to get out of hand. When tho first cage, containing fifteen: minors, went below, Mr. Rhodes was ' standing on the'fiat sheet of the brace, and as the cage descended cheers Here exchanged lx>tween the occupants nnd those assembled at the brace. The first truck of quartz from below was tipped Into tho hopper at No. 2 shaft at,twentyfive minutes to nine. This quartz, of course, was not broken out to-day, hut had been standing in the chamber nt No. 10 level. ■ During ihe morning h rnkp of Irncks from thehoppcrs wits railed to the Waikino battery. Three more men signed on at the Waihi Company's office at mid-dny. It has been definitely 'announced, that all thbso contracts which were not , resumed this morning have been cancelled, . . Street Scenes, During tho morning the streets hav« - presented a populous appearance, with numbers of s groups' of loitering strikers nnd others' who have come in from surrounding districts to sec what is going on, A , largo crowd is steadily maintained In front of tho Union Hall, where arrange- . menls 'worn made for.."crib to bo supplied!" Short addresses were given uj Mr. Fraser (of the Federation Executive) and others. : During last night some people (presumably nrbitratiouists) screwed a wooden : tablet, coloured to represent the Union Jack, on the front-of (he Miners' Union j Hall.- At'the flagpole of the hall to-dov ; there is being flown a miners' billy with a pair of dungarees and slouch hat. This is referred to by strikers aa a.u "emblem ; of arbitration." ■ ■ l

SECEDE FROM FEDERATION'. (By Telofrapli.—Press Association.) .Greymouth, October 2. The Grey Wharf Labourers' ' UnioA, which recently seceded from tho New Zealand "Federation of Labour, held a mass meeting this,morning to consider th» question of registering a mutual ment arrived at some time ago under the Arbitration Act. There was a large rally of tho opposing factions, the arbl-trationist-s winning at the ballot by a majority of 14, votes. All work on the wharf was suspended this morning for th« meeting, which also is cousidcriUK a draft of proposed new rules. IN PARLIAMENT. * RELEASE' THE GAOLED' MEN? " ' Mr. A. .13. Glover, M.P., asked the Mm , ister for Labour in tho House of Representatives yestcrduy whether ho would immediately release <thfl strike prisoners now in gaol, as in the opinion'of •nnny persons tho circumstances under which they have been imprisoned did not justify further detention of the men. Tho ' Hon.'W. F. Massey (Minister for Labour) replied: These men are ir prison because of' their refusal to find euretiM to keep tho peace required by a magistrate in tho proper cxerciso of his jurisdiction, upon clear proof that they had committed acts calculated to. provoke a breach of tho peace, They cau release themselves by finding sureties in accord, anco with the judgment of the- Court. Tho Government has no power to iclease them unless they are prepared tn Advise his Excellency the Governor that the judgment of the magistrate was erroneous, or not justified by the evidence, or that ciroumstanccs have'arisen sfheo tho Judgment which have materially altered the )>osition with which tho. Court dcilt. 'lh« Government cannot so ndvisc.