WAIHI AND HUNTLY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1599, 16 November 1912, Page 5

WAIHI AND HUNTLY.

LATEST NEWS. 4 i FEDERATION ACCUSATIONS DENIED* SOME WILD RUMOURS. (By Tolesrapli.—Press Association.) Wgihi, November 15. Tho coinpleto transformation of tho asspect and condition, of affairs in. the community, occurring- with such remarkable rapidity, is almost {ho sole topic of diseussioii ajmongst the -inhabitants of the 1 town, The first indication of the ciumjjp, was the demonstration of workers alter coming oi£ work curly on .Saturday laii. ' 'i'lio presenoe' of a large body oi ' workens in beddon Street during Saturday afternoon, oss?rting their rights, to the tee use dt the streets without molestation (which, right had been denied to them and'to', theft -wives for weeks past) had such an. effect on the federationists that it was apparent the tide was turning. The disuse of the epithets "scab,'' "mongrel," and. a score of other offensive terms 60 prevalent in the town, practically dated from Saturday, aid to*day . these epithets ars now an almost .unknown quantity. ■ 5 > •• The stand taken by workers on that Afternoon aid evening -showed conclusively that they no longer intended to take any more insults. Retaliation, sure and swift, bccame their wathword from that moment, and as a result of the resolution entered on by the whole of the workers, the sudden outbreak of Monday morning last occurred in Seddon Street, "You dirty scab," from the lipa oi federationista to Oflo of the workers, as tliey wero marching iii a body to workVastho primary cause of the meleo which followed, and the utter rout, of the federationists. v The following morning (Tuwday) witnessed the climax. The words, "You lousy scabs buried at the workers as tliev passod the union doors en routo to worlt tho disastrous -events of that day, and completed the downfall of tlie federation pf labour organisation m Waihi. The pent-up passion oewsjoned by the insulting and terrorising methods of the federationists against the workers and their families ever smcs tho Waihi Company commenced operations at its Waikino battery eigttt weeks ago., and reopened its mine, was Jet loose. Added to'this was the rn 1 , 90 of a constable and a worker. j £}l 1 'y of the crowd knew no bounds, and those federationists who had been conspicuous, in the ranks of tho inciters were chased in all directions, and in many cases roughly handled.. Fortunately for this section • of the federationists there were not many about in tlie streets. However,, before the day was out the list of names of conspicuous ones was prepared, and these mon were warned to leave the town within forty-eight hours. During the afternoon and ovening a number of these federationists hurriedly took their departure, Ihe exodus of federationists and. their families has since been in daily evidence, A pleasing feature of the present position in ..Waihi is the fact that many women who have been compelled to keep, indoors for weeks in order to'nvoid insults hurled at them by "scarlet runners/' are now enabled to appear in the streets without any fear of such insults, and.they are taking full advantage of the freedom offorded thorn* Ths ".scarlofe runners" aro seen in the streets as usual, but their behaviour is goqtl, _ Their past conduct has received no retaliation whatever from the arbitrationists or their women "folk. • Great indignation is expressed in Waihi at the manifesto issued by the Federation in reference to the state of affairs in Waihi. llost of the accusations are characterised as a string of falsehoods, and the rest as gross exaggerations. Tho following notice was telegraphed by Mr. W. E. Parry for publication in the local paper:— "All Waihi strikers' families and female dependents desirous of leaving Waihi for the time being may -procure tickets for Auckland., Thames, and intermedisite eta-, tions on application to the stationmaster at Waihi for tho same and personal luggage only."The local stationmaster intimated this evening that he had received instructions from his Department to issue tickets to applicants. A. number had applied prior to the stationmaster receiving the instructions. It is anticipated they will take advantage of the facilities afforded. CONSTABLE WADE. SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPROVE- ■ HUNT. Waihi, November 15. . Constable "Wade, the victim of last Tuesday's shooting, had a good night, and to-day showed Signs of improvement, though the doctor states he is not out of danger. THE FATAL EPISODE. PROCESSION THROUGH QUEEN STREET. Auckland, November 15/ The body of Frederick George Evans, the striker Who died after the encounter at Waihi, was brought to Auckland by train last evening, arriving at 8.15 p.m. A big body, of strikers ana their friends gathered at the station and made tho. oc-casion-one for a demonstration. • The platform was crowded with, men' ivlio talk-' ed quietly, but bitterly, about the fatal episode: There was 'an/jnipfessive iceivo when the train arrived. The men gath- : ored round the mortuary van, all bareheaded, while some of thein lifted the coDin upon their shoulders. The body was carried out into tho street and placed in an automobile liearso which moved slowly out into Customs 1 Strete't,Tlie orowd formed up into procossipn about 220 strong and inaithed behind tho ; hearse along Queen Street to the corner of Wellesley Street.' It,was a most deoorous and' Orderly, proceeding. Very little was said 1 by any of those in the procession except in the first moments when ono injudicious, ■mail jibed at a constable who took ta>notice._ Queen Street was busy with pro-', menading people as tho procession passed, arid' tho obviously ceremonious funeral and motor-hearse attracted a great deal of attention. Hundreds of people stopped and raised their- hats as it passed, and tho street buzzed with explanation of the s strange eight and comment upon it. . When the procession reached Wellesley Street the hearse turned up' tlvo hill at a rapid pace, leaving the 'procession beliindj including a few women, who had marched with it. Tho crowd wallted straight on to Grey Statue where a short meeting was held, 'Tito body of Evans was taken to tho premises of the undertaker and at the order of the Federation executive a post mortem exam-; ination was performed by tico rtodical men. They certified that death had resulted from a blow upon deceased's head. THE RELEASED MEN, INVASION OF WAIHI SPOKEN OF. Auckland, November IS, The sixty-three men who wero released from gaol are now no nearer the solution of tlie question as to what they aro going! to do. None of them, as far as is known, have attempted 'to obtain work. They spent to-day standing about street cornets discussing the usituation. One section seems to bo calling for a general rallying of the scattered forces of tlio federation and the old Waihi Minors' Union. A.j second section considers that the federa- 1 tionists still in Waihi should be tailed out of the town, and Waihi declared & "scab" goldfield.. The majority bast the Who Jo' blame for their plight on tho police. There is an externo section amongst the released men who openly advocate thsfc the federationists should rally their forces and pfopeed to Waihi to give tho workers some of their own back.STATEMENT BV MR. PARRY, MARSHALLING THEIR FORCES. ' Auckland', November IS, At the present time there iniist. be about one hundred and fiffe ex-Waiht miners and mine-workers in Auckland. Ono-half of these are men who-have come to Auckland by. boat and train during tho past two or three daye, Theso men speak very bitterly regarding the conditions whioh Wadu it jwaegttpr, for to® i® leavs.

-Mf Ai . ■ -r * »■ Waihi, In some cases men havo brotighi their wives and families, With'rtlie.m'.--Mr. Parry, -in -a statement to it-reporter this morning, explained that all strikers and thoir wives and families and dependents who aro in need of assistance, monetary or otherwise, had been notified by advertisement to apply, to the Strike Committee which has been set up in Auckland, Thoso women and their dependents whp desire to'leave Waihi'"for?-the time being can obtain tickets I.for-Auck-land, Thames, .or iuternicaiate/'stotieii§;'.oa application to -the stationmaster at -Waihi. The Federation lias put • up a substantial Slim pf money -with the Department-ip enable this arrangement to bo carried into effect. "No slono is being left unturned -, by tho orfeauisati.dn," Mr Party said, "to marshal our forces hero ,in Auckland.'" SOME RUMOURS. , WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT* MOVE F £By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) AUcklantlj November 15. Out of .:tho medley of rumours and wild statements in circulation, it.is a little difficult to obtain reliable data to enable the present position - to-' be sumined-up. The'-most- certainfact-...i5. -tliat. the federationists have not decided yet • on any definite cotirso <jf action.' She obvious solution of their troubles, namely, to Seek fresh employment, does not appear to have occurred to any of the men. Some of the released strikers are believed to Iks talking of returning to Waihi and w-rgak-ifig.. veil* geanco upon the arbitratio.nistsi. ila'nyof tho. Mcra'tionistS favour- -a rallying of : their forces,-others advficati'ng the calling away from . Waihi of all loyal to tlio cause, and the declaration of that town as a "scab" goldfield. Finance is undoubtedly, a serious problem, for there are many mouths to feed now- that tho strikers .have come out pf gaol and others arriving | daily from Waihi. | There is somo talk also of .possiblo trouble at lluntly, and in all probability the next move may " come from there, with Federation; supporters l ;fin'd 'Arbitration Workers fairly evenly It-1 would not take much to precipitate trouble. It. is_reported .to-night' that a,list ,of names is being fathered '" of all inen' .wiU--1 ing to go to Waihi and '-'liiakß •• things. | hum." A very sore point with -the d'e* feated agitator's is the seizure 'of the miners' hall' and union papers by the arbitfationists. There is .reason to believa that, at any rate until after tho fiiiieral of Evans, no disturbances dre likely to"ta& place in Auckland. the new order at waihi. r FAIR PLAY TO FEDERATIONISTS;. Auckland, Novomber 15i In. all, some ninety to one hundred fed-era-tioiiists have left Waihi since'th'e: forty-. eight hours' notice was issued by til* workers with tho turning of tho tide. [ Tho federationists appear to liavo come to r the conclusion fli.at.both'life and- property ' arn in daflgef- This impression' is en- 1 . tirely erroneous. . Provided tho federationists left in tho town conduct. tirem» selves as la<f-&iudiiig- (iifaztois likely' to be subjected' to '-imy .-.in.te.rfer--. eftcb. A?' to .the Wives and. families of federationists, there has. been nothing to' suggest that they arc likely to be r trcat.e}l to the insults and abuse heaped .ujjpn the women folk and children oi tho arbitra■fionjsts during .'the, past few months.; r'iA deputation apixiiuted by the Finance Committee of the Waihi Borough Council waited upon the officials of the arbitration union, and urged that fair play should lie given to the federationists. The assurance was readily given, and it was made quite clear to. the .deputation that'so long as tho icderationists "playrd ■fail" the arbitrationists - would- • do the fame. Tho officials added that'molestation of the federationists or their families at their homes 'would hot be permitted*-' \ Matty application's -ate being received by the Arbitration Union from the moderate Strikers for enrolment as members. These men purpose applying for work to tho mining companies. Applications for reliof have been mado to tho Arbitration Union by a number of wives pf federationists, ■ somo of whom mado themselves particularly objectionable during tho strike. The relief lias been granted. Tho happenings of tho past two days gave tho impression that federation pickets from outside 'districts, recognising the futility, of coming into Waihi in force, are endeavouring to drop into Waihi in small detachments. The sqhemo is, -however, not likely to be attended with success, as -the arbitrationists -are keeping, a close watc.h on tho railway Station apd other, means of- ingress to Waihi... Johnston]' the worker who was shot in the knee on Tuesday, is making; progress towards recovery. He will probably bo able to leave tho hospital in a few days. In the meantime tlio new. Union is looking after his.wifo and family^'.'.'iV.,.;",.. POSITION AT HUNTLY. INFLUX FROM WAIHI. . . , (By 'Jtelegrap.h> j -Press- Asspciia.tipn f } Auckland, November 15. Tho Huntly correspondent of an Auclfl land paper telegraphed to-day.-^Theii l was a lar:go inllu? of Waihi fedefatiohisfi; yesterday, and,still, more arrived to-day. These men; hlso their womenfolk, aro making very savage statements about the ' conduct: of the .arbitrationists'' at; Waihi, and the attitude .of the police. . These statements, which were gono into at great length at a mass meeting last night, aro accentuating tho bitterness already exist- ; ing hero,' When -asked their reasons -for ' coming here, tho Waihi people state -that. t!iey aro tho guests of the- local union,' many of them, being penniless. At last night's meeting the speakers asked for . assistance :in billeting Waihi refugees. Tlicro are all kinds of wild.- rumours and : prognostications of trouble going - around tlio- town-Ms toitho -intention's,of>. tlie .local union and the Federation of Labour. It ' is understood tli'St a '.been serioils'ly mado to strike 'in;order to' bring, to tlie front the members ef the new union, who would then, it is asserted., be run out of the town. Tho correspondent betiey.es Prnt wiser counsels will prevail. Members of the new union ridicule tho idea'that the "Feds" can close the mines,, as th«f new bers liow to wotli oiie mine, and expect a considerable' McessioSTfo their ranks .'as. soon as tho_-struggle cqm&u Nominations for. methljic.rship' of tho executive of tho f Waikato Miners' Union- havo closed, but the names havo not yet- been announced. . MR. SEMPLE. INTERVIEWED AT CERISTCHURCH. Christchurch, November 15. '. In the jS'tvaivVintcrview, Mr. R. Sem-plej organiser ■' fpr -the Federation of Labour, - said that it was siatod that ha was afraid to go io Waihi. ' This was not the case. ■ He' left W'aihi to attend' a meeting of the. executive. o.f ;tho. .federation,, and thcro bemg: no. occasion, for. him to return to Waihi lie did. r.ot go back; but if tho occasion hroso' lie would go back. Ifo wished it clearly understood lliat there was no fear in his.veins, and that, despito the statement that lie had tried and sentenced 'to death if lie' returned to Waihi, ho would not, if lie went back, seisk- police protection. He would not be. shielded by a policeman. „ whether or not he was to 1» lynched. Tho peopliv-'of the Dominion'did iso tlio real state of affairs at Wailii. Before the strike, the company had. over 700 mfaiirs; •'titabfically''''th.6.. jjjck of tho Southern Hemisphere. They now had 30, and that was all they had since the beginning of the strike. 'IKS Showed .-as far as the . strikers '-are I 'con T ce'rned they were as solid as tho day' they came out, and tho company was hopelossly defeated. There had been 110 vi.o-. lenco on the part of tho strikers. It was not' true that ho toek_ rrfugo -.in a- railway carriage at Waihi Ho stood with folded arms and. treated tlio. matter as a joke and took his seat in a cirTiago in the ordinary way when tho uain nrnyea. He also donicd that he took refuge in jumping over a fence on the Saturday night. Ho i stood on the. steps of the hall and was an eyo-witness of -the- whole affii'i'r knowing that- iif ho took any part, 1m would bo attested, . Indeed, he alleged that tho riot was started for that purpose. • ' {"Mr. Somplo also mado charges aga'inst the police anid arbitrationists Similar to those oontained in. the Federation manifesto published in Thursday's DomixioS',l

Under the auspices of the Federation of I-ibour a mftfa meeting will be held in tho Empress Theatre on Sunday night, when tlie sensational developments of tho week at Waihi will form the subject of addresses by Messrs, H. M. Keniicdv and IT. E. Holland. Mr. Kennedy was in Waihi until Rusical piofraiume