WHO ORGANISED THE RIOT ?

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1898, 5 November 1913, Page 7

WHO ORGANISED THE RIOT ?

TEE STRIKERS' VERSION, The following statement regarding Monday night's affray in Taranaki Street' was mado by the Striko Oonir mittea of the Wellington ■ Waterside Workers! Union yesterday:— , " A' membeir or tho Striko Committee was tliero at the timo, and ho assures us that as far as any interference with theso special constables was concerned the waterside workers were ■ absolutely not responsible. Instructions had been issued for them to 'keep cleiiv of -any circumstances that would create a riot. The secretary. (Mr, Geo. J. Farland) visited tho place,' and ' went into tho crowd, and iound out, who was really throwing the missiles. . Ho found rt number l of people, not members of tho organisation, who wero under the influenco of intoxicating-liquor. These lio got hold of and ran out of ) tho crowd with the assistance of _ the pickets, as ha realised that any disorder would bb put down to the waterside workers. In speaking to tho crowd . ho told' to go quietly home, because ho realised' that we have justice on our sido. " The battle can bo fought by Teason, and docs not require the aid'of .brickbats and broken bottles. Tho members of tho committeo who wero thero to keep tho waterside workers but of danger as- ■ sure us confidently that tho shots wero fired by drink-mad specials, and we havp on, good' authority the fact that £40 worm of liquor was sold 'in two hours that morning. Tho desiro for order is exemplified by tho .fact that pickets were posted',outside the two hotels _in the vicinity to restrain any. watersido worker'from entering. This was dono

throughout the day. "Mr. ; Arnold jun., who personally as- . sisted an injured lad 1 to -his homo, as- * Eures'us. that tho shot'went into tho boy's'! coat from above and camo out through the back,' which clearly indicates that ho was. shot from ..aloft. '.'At' tha. mass meeting held yesterday a j^sotuMg lonce witli''the ' injured' 'persons,'was

passed. It, 'was . also decided, tp write to Uhem,'-.'stating that 'the waterside .workers ivero not' responsible for their injuries,; and if ;any. loss ;is ..caused 1 . and anything' can be done for them tho' water'siders and their sympathisers will be only too glad to. assist. Tho meeting "was reported to by the delegates who. conferred ,with tilip employers. _ "The' men aro determined and solid. Their' claims are just, and they recognise that the publio aro beginning to see,that their causo is just from tho number of people* who have expressed sympathy.- Wo realise that .it has become largely a fight between tho publio

and the shipowners. "Wo . will" be sorry to soo any disorder and. riots caused ' ifliich. may result in injuries, and have instructed our members to keep absolutely clear from Bucklo Street; and the vicinity of tho barracks. It can bo plainly, seen that if these' specials are' not removed from the town tho publio may take action such as will bo afterwards regretted by the citizens. In. fact, there is no time to lose. They, should be removed without delay, for oven tho small boys of tho schools aro throning stones at thorn."- \ ' '