THE "GO-SLOW" STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3079, 9 May 1917, Page 8

THE "GO-SLOW" STRIKE

FORTY MINERS CHARGED DECISIONS OF THE COURT By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, May 8. Charges against 42 minors at Huntly, Pukemiro, and Glen Massey, of being parties to a seditious strike, were disposed of at the Police Court this mornmg. Thirty-three of the men pleaded guilty. The jii ne others pleaded not guilty. In suggesting that no penalty should be imposed on the men who had pleaded guilty, Sir. H." A. Singer, who appeared for the accused, said' that in view of the manner in which the previous eases had been dealt with, and in order that nothing should be done to hinder the full working of the mines, it was advisable that the men should be merely convicted and l ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Mr. V. .B. Meredith, Crown Solicitor, said he had no objection to the proposal. The accused were in a different position from their leaders, and had been placed in their present position through following the instigations of the latter. It should! be understood, however, that they had rendered themselves equally liable to the full penalty of a £100 fine or twelve months' imprisonment, and even if no penalty were at present asked for they remained liable to be sentenced should they give, any sign of reverting to their former unlawful attitude.

The Magistrate said; he agreed with counsel that the cases were upon a different footing from those already dealt with. From correspondence put- in last week it certainly appeared that the federation of the coal mine employees was nominally a democracy, but that the "go-slow", policy emanated from a somewhat autocratic executive. He thought counsel's suggestion perfectly permissible and proper, but lest there should be any misapprehension on the matter he wished to" make ii clear that ho approved it. quite apart from representations counsel had made. The men had allowed loyalty to the executive to lead thorn into conduct which had made them liable to a •charge of disloyalty to their country. Such action was- short-sighted', rather than criminal, and he felt that a suspended sentence would meet the needs of justice bettor than the imposition .of an immediate penalty. The accused were ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve, months. "With regard to the men who 'had' pleaded not guilty, Mr. Meredith stated that these men had probably done so because they had some. explanation to oft'er. Owing to the absence of important witnesses at the conference.in Wellington, it would be impossible to have the cases heard' at once, and he would suggest that fTiey should be adjourned sine die, to he brought up at 48 hours' notice. This course was agreed to, the Magistrate remarking: "I smcerelv hope the whole 'matter is over and done with till after the war at least."