AFFAIRS AT WAIHI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1030, 23 November 1912, Page 3

AFFAIRS AT WAIHI.

mi MAN U FOR INQUIRY.

MR HERDMAN'S REPLY

A Federation of Labour Deputation which'iuterviewed the Prime Minister at Auckland on Wednesday asked that the Government should set up a commission of inquiry in regard to the recent riots at Waihi. Interviewed by a Dominion reporter the Hon. A. _L. Herdmau made the following statement in reference to the proposal : “I know of no reason for holding an inquiry. No definite charges have been made to me by the Federation, and until they have been formulated and until I am convinced that complaints are founded upon truth, I cannot say whether it would be worth while allowing one. I have no personal objection into an investigation except on the ground of waste of time and waste of money. Meantime I know of nothing which would justify the Government in acceding to the request which the Federation leaders made to the Prime Minister,

i‘ After the inquest upon Evans had started, Mr O’Regan, the Federation solicitor, requested me to have the inquiry held at Auckland, instead of at Waihi. He also took exception to Mr Waluutt acting as coroner, and asked that someone else should act. Both requests were refused by me upon two grounds. First, Waihi is the most convenient place for holding the inquest. Most of the witnesses live there ; and, second, I believe that Mr Wallnntt is an honest and capable man. Mr O’Regan made some general complaints, and these I have sent ou to tbe Commissioner of Police for a report. Beyond Mr O’Regan’s communication I have received no notice from the Federation of any charges, etc., against the police or anyone else. “ Supposing a commission were appointed,” the Minister continued, “ what would they inquire about ? I will gladly consider any charges which the Federation may care to put in black and white, and send on to me. They should do this, and their charges should have some foundation in truth. What actually happened at Waihi has been so distorted and so hidden behind a cloud of perversion that an investigation might make matters clear and enable the public to distinguish ‘ the wood from the trees,’ but beyond that, in my opinion, it would serve no good purpose. “The Federatiouists are angry with the police. This is but natural. I never knew any body of men who found the restrictions of the law embarrassing, look with a friendly eye upon a police constable. Mr Fraser says that 1,800 people have been driven out ot Waihi. This is nonsense. The people could have stayed if they had liked, and they would have been well protected by tbe police had they remained. The men were either enticed away or had not the courage to stay. Letters may have been written by Aibitrationists ordering people out of the town. I know nothing of that excepting what I have read in tbe papers. “Mr Fraser also speaks about a reign or terror in Waihi. This is just as ridiculous as other statements made by the Federatiouists, The reign of terror in Waihi came to an end when Mr Fraser and his fellow Federatiouists took their departure, and citizens are now living a peaceful, civilised life. No one who goes to Waihi to-daj need have the slightest fear. Everyone will be well protected. “When the Commissioner of Police went to Waihi,” the Minister stated in conclusion, “he was instructed : First, to see that men who wanted to work were permitted to work without molestation ; and, second, to see that individuals and property were protected, and that the law was obeyed. These instructions have been carried out.”