A Westralian View

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 90, 6 December 1912, Page 3

A Westralian View

Thu« "Westralian Work#r" of Nov. 15:— RIOTS AT WAIHI. THE STRIKERS ATTACKED. A MAN FATALLY WOUNDED. During the wwk sensational messages from New Zealand have been published in the press to the effect that serious noting has occurred at Waihi.- It is alleged that the men who.have-taken the.place of the strikers, goaded to fury by the taunts of the latter, attacked them and chased them all over the town. All of which -must be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. Those who have closely followed the course of events at Waihi know that the leaders have all along urged the strikers to remain orderly. Some 60 of the men have been jailed-' because they refused to find bail on the ridiculous charges preferred against them. A number were charged with, "follow-ing-up"; that is, they were alleged to have walked after the men who had taken their places, presumably with the idea of arguing with them and inducing them to oease. work. If this be a crime, then New Zealand can no longer point an accusing finger at Russia.

Yesterday we received th« following telegram from Thb Maortland Worker :—

"Blacklegs and hundred armed police in possession Waihi. Many strikers obliged to fly, women hiding. When the Union Hall was mobbed pickets In' defence used revolver's. Policeman leading attack wounded a striker,, who is now dying as a result of blow from a baton. Position serious. Colorado ovot again."

To this pass has New Zealand come, the country which, under the rulo of John Ballano© and Richard Seddon, promised to develop into one of the brightest of the world's democracies. If the bludgeoning and dynamiting tactics of the mine-owners of Colorado are to he introduced into New Zealand, the latter, country will soon be no place for the independent British worker.