AFFAIRS AT WAIHI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1031, 26 November 1912, Page 3

AFFAIRS AT WAIHI.

NEW UNION’S MANIFESTO

RECENT EVENTS REVIEWED.

Waihi, Nov. 23

The following is a condensed summary of a manifesto just issued by the officials of the new union : “The strike, which began on May 13th with farce, continued its burlesque for weary months, and reached its stage of tragedy ou November 12th. Never in industrial history have such despicable methods been used, and these, too, to fight au uucleau cause, for the whole regrettable affair has beeu merely a protest against the desire of a section of men who wished to work under the Arbitration Act. These men, the engine drivers, tried the Federation of Labour, and found it incapable, unbalanced, and hysterical. They found it fighting political and religious fights, and proved that its system was unsound, and its tenets unreliable. They cut adrift, and registered under the Arbitration Act, hence the absurd strike to coerce these men back, aud au ultimatum to the companies that they must not employ these men. No conditions of wage were at issue, but merely a point of tyrauuy by the domineering, so-called federation, who themselves admit that Waihi provided the highest wages aud best conditions iu the whole world. Scores of men made from ,£4 to £6 a week, and some contractors drew ,£IOO a month. But the die was cast. The leaders saw their error, aud failed to retreat manfully, and the strike dragged wearily on for weeks. Workers’ houses were surrounded by strikers, their wives, and even their children, hurling filthy insults, yelling and hootiug, aud behaving like wild animals. For weeks the reckless boycotting of tradespeople, the intimidating ot sympathisers, and the wildest system of lies were perpetrated. Many cases of violence occurred, but the presence of police specially picked for their tact, discretiou, aud good conduct, kept the irresponsible mobs somewhat in check. At last gelignite was used, a plug with lighted fuse being deliberately thrown at a group of arbitratiouists, whose escape from the resulting explosion was nothing short ot marvellous. On Monday, November nth, the insulting aggressors drew upon themselves au attack by their victims, but the loathsome language to the workers, their wives aud their children contiuued, aud open threats of violence to life and property were indiscriminately hurled at them. Ou Tuesday, November 121 b, a gang of workmen, ou passing the Miners’ Union Hall, were greeted with base aud wholly uncalled-for insults, followed by a pistol shot. The infuriated men rushed the hall, aud more shots greeted them, luckily badly aimed. Only two of the shots found marks ; au arbitratiouist fell, aud a policeman received a bullet iu the abdomen. Before falling, the constable struck down his attempted murderer with his baton, aud the would-be assassin died iu the hospital. The crackling of pistol shots released the restraint of the workers, who rushed at the strikers, and iu a brief time revenged the hideous nightmare to which they aud their families had for six mouths beeu treated. The police strove to restrain the workers, but they were only partially successful. Man to man bad to account for many a long score of bullying women, children, and isolated men. The defeat was sudden, dramatic, aud complete. The tyranny of mouths was concluded la a few hours. The national flag was flown, and women, hiddeu for months behind their closed doors, came forth In the streets without fear of molestation. And now began, perhaps, the foulest play of the whole affair: the issuing of “manifestos” and statements so grossly untrue as to be ludicrous, if not so damnable. Instead of taking a beating like men, every possible lie has beeu concocted about the workers, the police and the citizens. Even the matron of the hospital (who sat up all night with Evans) was grossly maligned. Since the rage caused by the shooting subsided, not an angry word has been spoken, not a blow has been struck. The arbitration supporters carried the day with determination, aud upheld their victory with dignity and decorum. Strikers are now leaving by dozens (at Parry’s bidding), and declare they are driven forth ; that murder, persecution, pillage aud arsou, etc., are rife. As a matter of fact, not a single instance of retribution by arbitratiouists has been recorded. Those men and women whose mouths were foulest and their threats loudest, may walk the streets of Waihi as they would of Auckland. Truly, the Waihi strike will be remembered as the most absurd on record, its weapons as the foulest and most cowardly ffor women, aud even children, were put to the front). On the other hand, neutral citizens, lire police, engine-drivers and arbitratiouists have come out clean-hauded aud unstained, aud no mau can point at them the finger of reproach.”