AFFAIRS AT WAIHI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1024, 16 November 1912, Page 3

AFFAIRS AT WAIHI.

DEATH OF EVANS. Waihi, Nov. 14. A fatal sequel to the disturbance which took place at the miners’ Union Hall on Tuesday morning occurred last night at 10.30, when George Frederick Evans, who was struck with a baton by Constable Wade, when the latter, it is presumed, was shot by Evans, died as a result of the injuries caused. There was laceration and concussion of the brain, caused by a blow from a baton. From the time that Evans was taken to the hospital, there was scarcely any hope of his recovery, as in such cases death is almost invariably the result. He was taken into the institution in a semi-conscious condition, and shortly afterwards became wholly unconscious, and remained in this condition until he breathed his last. Deceased, who was 28 years of age, was an Australian. He was married, and leaves a widow and two children. When the strike occurred deceased was employed as assistant stamperman in the Grand Junction battery. INQUEST OPENS. The inquest on George Frederick Evans was opened on Thursday afternoon before Mr William Wallnutt, coroner, and the following jurymen; G. Tawlor (foreman), A. Dick, M. G. Poiner, A. E. Ellis, J. Murray, and R. H. Holmes. Inspector Wright represented the police. Alter viewing the body, evidence of identification was given by Albert Goldsmith, who said he had known deceased for about sixteen years. Deceased had said he was a member of the Waihi Miners’ Union, and was one of the strike pickets. Evans was thirtyone years of age, and was born at Ballarat (Victoria). His wife and two young children live in Waihi. At the request of Inspector Wright the inquest was adjourned until Tuesday next. CONSTABLE WADE INTERVIEWED. Interviewed at the hospital, Constable Wade, who is still very weak, but in good spirits, said that when the crowd got opposite the office doer of the Miners’ Union Hall, some workers and strikers were having hot words. A rush was made towards the door. He heard a shot fired and then immediately ran into the passageway, at the same time telling the foremost of the workers to stand back.

Constable Wade rushed through towards the folding doors, from which he saw Evans fire. Being under the impression that the shot was fired direct at him, Constable Wade chased Evans out the back on to a vacant allotment, aud was gaining fast on the fugitive when the latter swung right round aud fired point-blank, the bullet striking the constable in the abdomen. The constable continued the chase, and drawing his baton before Evans could start off again, struck him on the head, Evans falling flat on his face. Then the crowd took charge.

FAIR PLAY DESIRED. A deputation of members of the Borough Council waited on the new union officers on Thursday, and pointed out that as the new union commanded the situation it should see that fair play was given to Federationists. A union official replied that it was their intention to prevent members in any way molesting Federationists. Since Tuesday morning about eighty leading Federationists have left the town, some accompanied by their wives and families. HOT-WORDED SYMPATHY. The Federation of Labour Executive passed a resolution condoling with Mrs Evans on the death of her husband, pledging the Federation to see herself and her children provided for, and stating that Mr Evans was a hero sacrificed to the blood lust of capitalism. FIGHTS AT HUNTLY, At Huntly on Thursday night a heated exchange of words between Federationists and Arbitrationists led to fights, in which two “ Feds ” were badly punished. The feeling between the two sections there is daily becoming more bitter. PARRY’S APPEAL. Mr W. E. Parry, vice-president of the Federation of Labour, telegraphed to Mr Glover from Auckland to-day, as follows:—“More money immediately to make provision for women and children driven from home. Free labourers breaking into homes and threatening their lives. Men forced into bush. You have no idea of position. We must release terrified women. Men not allowed to enter Waihi. Police say they have got free hand. Releasing all men from Mount Eden gaol today. No other way out of difficulty at present. Cable to all centres Australia.” INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. A good deal of correspondence was found strewn on the floor of the Waihi Miners’ Union Hall when the building was captured, and it throws some interesting , light on things in general concernipg the strike. One letter, which was written in Melbourne on October rStb, was

signed “P. H. Hickey,” and a tag to it was as follows: “I would suggest, when the next summonses are issued against union officials or members, that every available man and woman to the number of hundreds, if possible, be subpoenaed for the defence, to make the trials last for days. Pile on the agony ; turn the law courts into a farce ; make the whole show a laughing stock. It can be done with hundreds ready to give evidence. Men, women and children —summon them all. Here is a suggestion in a big strike ot Welsh miners: The strikers got hold of the ‘ scabs ’ and make them ' kiss the book ’ and declare that they would cease from ‘scabbery.’ Out of several hundred ‘ scabs ’ only one refused the oath. It is worth thinking about.” Another letter written by a Waikino woman urges the throwing of eggs and rotten tomatoes at processions of workers. Inter alia, she states, “ Pay special attention to engine-driver . He is very fond of eggs, so you might oblige him with a few pure bred Orpingtons. Please let Mr Parry know that ‘ scab ’ women are going up in quantities by the 12 train ; they may like eggs, too ! ” A letter signed by J. R. Hunter, secretary of the State Miners’ Union, runs: “We, the committee of the State Miners’ Union, viewing the position of affairs at Waihi, especially the gaoling of our comrades, consider the time has arrived for drastic action. We therefore suggest to you the advisability of inaugurating the irritation strike: (1) To select all primary industries that can be relied upon, and issue instructions that on and after a certain date the output be reduced by what proportions you deem necessary ; (2) that you stipulate a penalty tor disobeying the mandate, as it is necessary that every member shall remain at his work so as to prevent the other side from declaring a strike or lock-out; (3) that you draw up a demand on the Government for the release of our comrades. Issue the same to all unions in New Zealand, or what you think best in that direction.” Here is a slab from a letter to the headquarters of the “Red Federation” in Wellington, and in refers to an incident of the strike ; “This morning a large number of women waited on the train coming from Waikino with those •scabs,’ and pelted them with rotten hen fruit They say a woman never can hit anything they throw at. I can assure you that is not right, as far as Waihi is concerned. It was very funny to see those ‘scabs’ scraping the over-ripe hen fruit off themselves. One of these creatures was hurt underground to-day by a fall ot earth, but I am afraid it is not badly hurt.” One letter, addressed to Mr John Payne, expresses thanks, and goes on to say that thej never expected to find sympathy in the House of Representatives. Parry’s letters are singularly illiterate, and contain a queer jumble of catch phrases from textbooks on Socialism, with much bad grammar and weird spelling. Writing from Mount Eden gaol, he gives a rambling account of how things are going, tells about a sermon on “Law” by Bishop Crossley, finds fault with his Lordship’s reasoning, and expresses the belief that he (Parry) could run off a pamphlet on economic questions if he had the data “which I have in my home.” He concludes: “Thanks, with best wishes from all to all—in one word, ‘solidarity,’ which is destined to drain the intoxicating cup of persecution to its bitter dregs. Yours for industrial freedom.—Parry.” His correspondence is mostly composed of that sort of thing. Most of the letters begin “Dear comrade,” or simply “Comrade,” with sometimes “Fellow-worker” for a changeAmong his letters is a long one dealing with events in Auckland last February, at the time of the trouble with the general labourers ; and it complains a lot in this style : “In dealing with this phase of the question I said, clearly and distinctly, granting that we smashed the door into splinters, we was the representatives of the wealth-producing classes in order to explain our rights—that, or getting as much as we could for our labor power.”