THE ROWDYISM AT WAIHI.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1610, 29 November 1912, Page 6

THE ROWDYISM AT WAIHI.

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Waihi, November 28. At the Magistrate's Court to-day the charges against Gtivo Nonkes and Arthur .Richards (federatibnists) for threatening behaviour arising out of the disturbance on November 11, were dismissed. The Magistrate, in giving his decision, remarked that, in the case Noukes, defendant had, under the circumstances, no alternative but to defend himself. In Richards's case the man had been practically challenged' by Bostook (arbitrationist), and, though a breach of the poac= had been committed,- there was justiname provocation. In regard to Bo.stock, who was similarly charged, the Magistrate said that he would deal with his case inter, along with other arbitrationists. ■In connection with charges against James Edmund Harvey (arbitrationist) and James Edwailds (fedorationist) for threatening behaviour and fighting m front of the Miners' Hall on Tuesday, November 12, the Magistrate said that these charges were dissimilar to those previously dealt with. From the evidence it would appear that both men had reputations for fighting, and, when Ihey mot. there was no crowd, no excitement in the street, and both appeared willing to try the resnective measures of their strength. Both were equally blameable. and each would bo convicted and nued with costs 28s. The remainder of the cases are to be heard to-morrow.

FEDERATION OF LABOUR. ~ ANOTHER MANIFESTO.' The Federation of Labour have sent us a copy of their statement to the people of New Zealand, from which we make the following extracts:— "We declare that- hundreds of witnesses are prepared to solemnly sflvea.r in a court of law that the police, aided and abatted lawless, acts of assault, eviction, and' outrage; also, that Police. Commissioner Cullen's . administration at Waihi was partisan, provocative of disorder, and altogether subversive of civic polity. The Government, its policy and its representatives, as far as Waihi is concerned, are charged with bfms* accessories to discreditable' and un-British infamies, and therefore should not be our judges as well 'as our accusers. / "Now,, every'statement on the trouble made, bv the Minister for Justice (Mr. Herdmaii) is clearly'anti-federationist, obviously biased and demonstrably nonjudicial. '. But it is. Mr: Herdman's Department that wo impeach and ought it and the strike-breakers apnlaudinj it to bo allowed to cloud and dodge the issue by the tu quoone method of argument? '"If wo concede that arbitrational retaliation was to be expected no on 9 would surely' expect that'- the police were to be pai-t .of the process. The Mayor of Waihi is an arbitrationist, and it seems to us undigriified, to say nothing more, for the Minister for Justice to accept his congratulations for refusing to sot up an inquiry. "As for Mr. Herdinan's published reply to our, demand for an inquiry, definite charges have been made by the .federation, and 'will be set forth in black and white, but we. say it is not proper for Mr. Herdman to decide.if it is "worth while' permitting an inquiry. ■ Is Mr. Herdman likely, to be 'convinced that complaints are founded upon truth?' He is committed :to the contention that the complaints arc untrue. Yet he is as much affected by an inquiry as we are—and we want an 'inquiry,; plead for an' inquiry, demiind "an inquiry. "The peonle everywhere, in the interests of" truth, justice, .and purity of administration, . are asked, nay urged, to back up this demand. A full and public inquiry into, police conduct at Waihi must be made—and we stake our all on the result.. M "Again, an inquest; is to bo proceeded with in which we are vitally interested. It lias been stated by leading daily newspapers that the inquest is equivalent to an inquiry. Notwithstanding plenty of precedents, Mr. Herdman has declined tn change -the venue. We merely cslc that this be noted, and also draw attention to the fact that the jury has no striker on it. and was constituted when hundreds of citizens had fled the town. "In regard to the widow and children of tli" late F. G. Evans, the Federation of Labour has decided to raise .£IOOO in their behalf, and has headed e. subscription list- with £100. It appeals to individuals. unions, and other organisations. to contribute the balance by special effort and special donation. . "After six months' observance, it has b»n decided to reduce thb levy on federation unions to 5' per cent, of weekly earnings. Upon the 5 per cent, basis it is hoped to maintain the strikers, their wives and children, as long as the strike lasts, and until they are removed, from their present hard circumstances. "In the determination to effectively craotilo with the extraordinary and en-tir-elv unanticipated •nnrpo«fs to which arbitration has been degraded, and to settle among the unions whether the minoritv or the majoritv of a callinu shall govern, and further to solidify union forces against the present Government, the federation is convening a_ conferencc of trade unions, to be held in January next. It is believed that every union will endeavour to be represented. "For the executive. . "P. C. WEBB' President. "R. SBMPLE, Organiser. "J. GLOVER, Secretary." November 27, 1912.