Police at Waikino.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 79, 13 September 1912, Page 7

Police at Waikino.

Incitement to Disturbance.

Police Abuse and Provocation,

Company's Move. That tho raining companies are bocoming anxious is being daily manifested in many ways., That they intend to provoke and irritate tho strikers is a fact that is as Well known as that a strike is in evidence. The most exciting feature of last week was the employment of some two - r three salaried men at Waikino doing some excavation work near the. battery. These men, since the strike occurred, have been performing the arduous niid nerve-racking work of watchmen for the Waihi Company. Evidently tbe company wanted something more substantial by way of a return, and despatched the individuals mentioned to Waikino to earn their few bob and incidentally test the feeling of the strikers on the scab question. The company found out that the strikers were by no means as disunited as some of their press- fakirs would have the great public believe. The undesirables were provided with an escort to their homes on each occasion consisting of brave, gallant policemen and class-conscious workers. Luring tho Strikers. Ou Sunday afternoon the air was full of rumors concerning Waikino and the strikers. Reports ranging from the blowing up of the battery to a standup fight between a scab and a striker were met at every corner. One of the local livery-stable proprietors declared it was the best thing that had come his way since the strike, as every horse and trap he had had been hired out to go to the "scene of bloodshed." Investigation, proved that a despicable and foul-smelling plan had been concocted by the police to lure the strikers into a trap, but as Burns pointed out "the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley." One of the scabs was walked up the street past the "Union Hall, where the strikers were mainly congregated, and •Rras followed by a squad of nearly a dozen policemen. The scab went as far as the battery and then retraced his steps. The strikers quickly realised the trap that had been set for them, and refused to "bite." That they were expected to bite and so give the scab-defenders the opening they were looking for was plainly evident by the remark of one of the bluecoated crime-crushers, -who, as he passed some of the strikers, said: "Why, there isn't any light in these men!" Police Line-up. The police lined-up near some steps just opposite the bridge, which is the main entrance to the battery, and were here reinforced by a gang of mine-man-agers, battery superintendents, and various other "toilers," including a doctor from Waihi. Two alleged followers of the lowly Carpenter were also in attendance. Tlie presence of these individuals was plainly part of the plot, although "the masters' voice" in the .Auokknd "Herald" tried to account for their presence because they were informed that a hostile demonstration was made to one of their employees! That yarn might' go down with the j Labor (?) party and its brood, but it 'is too fishy for those workers who know anything about the class struggle. Exceptional Conduct. There was, and is, absolutely no occasion for the presence of a gang of capitalist law and order guardians at Waikino. The only thing they are there for is to cause trouble in the interests of the mining plutes and discredit the strikers. The conduct of the men has been exceptionally good since the strike, and even the classconscious reporter of the "Herald" is forced to admit this, though rather grudgingly. The strikers have kept a stiff restraint on themselves for a loX)g time in the face of continued and' persistent provocation, and there is a limit, after all, to human endurance. The iufcroduction of scabs guarded by police, who serve both as protectors for the scrfbs and taunters to the men, is not designed to make for peace. Vile and Violent Threats. On Monday the aggressiveness of tho police became even more' apparent ; they evidently were smarting from tho frustration of their plans of the previous day. Two strike pickets were shoved off the footpath by the police, who said to the pickets: "You b curs, you won't fight." Drawing their batons and whirling them around in the air, they told the pockets that "if we get a chance to have a go at you, wt> will smash your b brains in." Another picket was also jostled" by the police, and another one was struck in the chest by the brave bluecoat, who affectionately said, "I'll knock your •j . forehead in, you cur, if I start on you." That ihe police WANT to create disturbance may be easily seen, and as it wasn't coming quick enough, we have the "Herald" reporter calling out for more police protection. In a little one-street town which formerly had one policeman they now have nearly a dozen. Parry and Police. The police escort the scabs to their homes for meals and rest daily. A little brush occurred between President Parry and the detective in charge, who ordered the police (10 in number) to guard the steps leading off the main street, and, not to allow Parry to put his hands on them (tihe police) or anyone to enter upon the stairway, as it was private property. The police were taking a scab home at the time. On reaching the public road again, after climbing the stairs, the procession was increased, and just as it passed the church a militant strike supporter tolled "The Dead March" on the church bell. "Upon reaching the scab's home some of the men happened to look down the hill and espied the correspondent of a capitalist paper, who is also a J.P-, doing a soouting turn a la Baden-Pow-ell among the gardens of some prominent citizens. It has not transpired yet .trh-stlie-r h# wm after "copy" or whe-

Official Report from the Scene of Action

! ther he had the Riot Act iv his knapsack. The Real Boycotters. A poor sufferer. from printer's itch has got into a virtuous rage in the Auckland "Herald" over the "Socialistic methods adopted in Waihi." He iis specially sore on the treatment meted out to the scabs, and suggests that any person* intimidating another should on the first offence be deprived of his citizenship; second offence., deported: and for telling a man he is a scab, 12 months' hard labor! It is rather amusing to hear people condemning the bovcottitig by the strikers, but ft never gets into the Auckland "Herald" or any other Labor-hating paper about the boycott used on strikers' wives by Waihi doctors who refuse to attend maternity cases without seeing their three guineas in their hand befoTe attending, or else demanding a guarantee that it be paid in so many days. ''The innocent wives and little children" don't cut much ice when it suits the other side to use the boycott. Professor Starve-the-strikers-into-sub-mission Mills and the "Bulletin" please copy. Karangahake. The following resolution has been forwarded to the Karangahake Union:--"That this meeting of the Waihi Workers' Union heartily appreciates the action of the Karangahake miners in refusing to work with traitors from Waihi. Best" wishes in fight for clean unionism." Annual Meeting. At the annual meeting of the union, the balance-sheet for the year ending June ".HO, 1912, aud auditor's report on samw was presented and read; also the officials' report was iniauimously received. After a few questions had been asked, the reports were adopted unanimously. Nominations for officers for the ensuing year resulted in the present officials being returned unopposed, with the exception of Chris. McMillan, who is retiring from the secretaryship, Messrs. Franklin aud Kennedy contesting the seat. A hearty vote of acclamation was accorded to Secretary McMillan for his past services to the union. The following resolution was carried with but three dissentients: "That this meeting emphatically protests against the contemplated imprisonment of defaulters under the Defence Act in military barrack prisons, as suggested by the Minister of Defence."