Enquiry Demanded

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 90, 6 December 1912, Page 8

Enquiry Demanded

THE FEDERATION OF LABOR TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND. The Federation of Labor asks for fair play. With all its foes fanning a flame of feeling against it, and presenting ii ami its purposes as non-existent withcltcraft was of old presented, howshall people escape swing the Federation through the glasses of its enemies? Nevertheless, we ask that the .situation be viewed calmly and dispassionately, and that the Federation be regarded as at least equally concerned for the triumph of moral conduct and upright principles as any other organised body engaged in social activities Given this mental attitude and our viewpoint will be understood even if not upheld.

Incredible as it may sound, we declare that there WAS a cause for Dig exodus of Waihi strikers and their families, and that this cause was the collusion of police and so-called arbitrutiuiiists iv an effort to break the Wuihi strike, which strike was quit* in conformity with the law of the land.

We further declare that hundreds of witnesses are prepared to solemnly swear in a court of law that the police aided and abetted lawless acts of assault, eviction and outrage; also., that Police Commissioner Cullen's administration at Waihi was partisan, provocative of disorder and altogether subversive of civic polity.

Wo say that the Government's policy throughout is practically responsible for riot and outrage at Waihi, and that it and not us sliould bo on trial. The Government, its policy and its representatives, as far as Waihi is concerned, are charged with being accessories to discreditable and un-British infamies, and therefore sliould not be our judges as well as our accusers. Are the people of Now Zealand prepared to allow the Government and its Police Commissioner to escape all responsibility on the plea that iihe Federation of Labor deserves to be wiped out because it is opposed to the Government? If the Government assorts that we are the guilty and we assert- that it is the guilty, shall the Government be the tribunal of judgment?

Now, every statement on the trouble made by the Minister of Justice (.Mr. Herdiuan) is clearly anti-Federa-tion ist. obviously biassed and demonstrably non-judicial. But it is Mr. Herdman's department that we impeach and ought it and the strike-breakers applauding it to be allowed to cloud and dodgo the issue by the tv quoque method of argument? If wo concede that arbitrational retaliation was to be expected ho one would surely expect that the police were to be part of the process. The Mayor of Waihi is an arbitrationist, and it seems to us undignified, to say nothing more, for the Minister of Justo accept his congratulations for refusing to sot up an inquiry. As for Mr. Herdman's published reply to our demand for an inquiry, definite charges have been made by the Federation, and will be set forth, in black and white, but we say it is not proper for Mr. Herdman to decide if it is "worth while" permitting an inquiry. Is Mr. Herdman likely to be "convinced that complaints are founded upon truth?" He is committed to the contention that the complaints are untrue. Yet lie is as much affected by an inquiry as we are — and we want an inquiry, plead for an inquiry, demand an inquiry. The people everywhere, in the inter-

Case Against Inquest Coroner

Various Intimations

ests of truth, justice and purity of administration, are asked, nay urged, to back up this demand. A full and public inquiry into police conduct at Waihi must be made—and we stake our all on the result. | Again, an inquest is to be proceeded with in which we are vitally interested. H has benn stated by leading daily newspapers that the inquest is equiva- j lent to. an inquiry. Notwithstanding plenty of precedents, Mr. Hcrdnian lias declined to change the venue. We merely ask that this be noted and also draw attention to the fact that- the jury has no striker on it and was con-i stituted when hundreds of citizens had Hed tbe town. On behalf of the relatives of the deceased and of thousands of his fellow-unionists we are impelled to again request that Mr. "Wallnutt be removed from the colonial chair. His conduct of the inquest as far as it has gone does not inspire faith in his fitness for the grave duties he has to discharge, but in addition lip is known to be a bitter anti-Federatibnist and a foe of the strike and the Miners' Union. Ho has publicly assisted in the campaign against the Waihi strikers, is avowedly wifcb the so-called arbitrationists, and in his journalistic capacity has felt called upon to comment on the strike and the strikers in fiercely condemnatory terms. We point these facts out, and leave it to the people of New Zealand to join in the protest against a flagrant and transparent abrogation of the spirit and practice of trial by jury. In regard to the widow and children of the late F. G. Evans, the Federation of Labor has decided to raise £1000 in their behalf, and has headed a subscription list with £100. It appeals to individuals, unions and other organisations to contribute the balance by special effort and special donation. Our late fel-low-worker lost his life in fighting for unionism and the workers' cause, and we feel confident that this appeal will meet with a fraternal and helpful response. After six months' observance, it has bee-n decided to reduce the levy on Federation unions to 5 per cent, of weekly earnings. The Federation feels tihat the drain on its affiliations has been sustained and heavy, and though the unions have met the impost regularly and enthusiastically they cannot be expected to further keep up the relatively almost-unprecedented amount of financial aid. Upon the 5 per cent, basis it is hoped to maintain the strikers, their wives and children as long as the strike lasts, and until they are removed from their present hard circumstances. In the determination to effectively grapple with the extraordinary and entirely unanticipated purposes to which arbitration has been degraded and to settle among the unions whether the minority or the majority of a calling shall govern, and further to solidify union forces against the present Government, the Federation is convening a conference of trade unions, to be held in January next. It is believed that every union will endeavor to be represented. For the Executive, P. C. WEBB, President. R. SEMPLE, Organiser. J. CLOVER, Seoretary. Donations and communications should be addressed to Mr. J. Glover, Box 1500, G.P.0., Wellington. November 27, 1912.