WAIHI TROUBLES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1119, 8 July 1913, Page 3

WAIHI TROUBLES.

MENTIONED IN THE HOUSE.

MR ROBERTSON’S AEEEGA-

TIONS.

Incidents connected with last year’s strike at Waihi were brought up in the House by Mr J. Robertson, Labour member for Otaki.

Mr Robertson opened his remarks by referring to the riot which resulted in the death of Evans on November 12. He declared that from the previous Saturday until Tuesday the men who were working in the mines were clearly given to understand that they were at liberty to attack the strikers, and that they would be backed up by the police in doing it. He also criticised the action of the Government in regard to the inquest on Evans. It was quite impossible at that time to get an unbiassed coroner or jury at Waihi, but yet the Minister for justice had declined to grant a request for a change of venue. Mr Robertson also referred to the sending of a large force of police to Huntly, and said that there was no occasion for it, and that it was calculated to provoke and not to avoid disorder. No disturbance had occurred before the police were sent there except the throwing of two eggs and the alleged throwing of one brick. He paid a tribute to Commissioner Mitchell for the tact that he displayed in keeping the constables in plain clothes and out of the township. Proceeding, Mr Robertson referred to the committal of Johnson to the Auckland Mental Hospital when, as he alleged, he was perfectly sane, and he alleged that this was due to the action of the police, who wanted to get the man out of the way. The Minister for Justice (Hon. A, L. Herdman): Do you say that that was done byj the police ? Mr Robertson: I do.

Mr Herd man: I give that an emphatic denial. You yourself were playing the part of a detective at Waihi. Mr Rbbertson: I was not. I merely went to Waihi to enquire into the matter. Mr Herdman: You told me yourself that you were eavesdropping. Mr Robertson : I give that an absolute contradiction. All that I have said is that I was standing in a hotel doorway when the Crown Solicitor (Mr Mays) and the coroner (both of whom knew I was present) ridiculed the evidence that was being given at the inquest on Evans, and spoke as if the verdict was a forgone conclusion.

Continuing his remarks, Mr Robertson said : “I ask whether the Government is going to assist in the forming of bogus unions against legitimate workers organisations ? The Minister for Labour (Hon. W. F. Massey) himself knows that the union formed at Huntly was a bogus one.” Mr Massey: Ido not.

Mr Robertson asserted that the union was a creature of the employers, and stated that it was a fact that the cost of forming the union was advanced by a director of the company. Dr A. K. Newman, who followed Mr Robertson, said that, listening to his friend, the member for Otaki, he had been thinking what a funny thing politics was. The Reform Party had helped to put Mr Robertson in.

Mr Robertson: I give that an absolute denial. Dr. Newman said that Reform voters had helped to put Mr Robertson in. Mr Robertson said that more had voted for the other man. He added: ‘‘Ask the member for Palmerston North.” The Prime Minister : Ask me !