THE TROUBLE AT WAIHI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 24, 21 September 1912, Page 5

THE TROUBLE AT WAIHI.

WATERSIDE WORKERS’ RESOLUTION. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, September 20. At a meeting of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union a resolution was passed protesting against the imprisonment of the _ strikers at vVaihi, and tho concentration of police in the strike-affected area, for the purpose of intimidating peaceful unionists, and demanding the release of “our fellowworkers in gaol, and freedom from molestation by the police.” Tho resolution proceeds: “Wo express our (C-n----lidenco in tho New Zealand Federation (if Labour, and wo arc prepared to help in any movement which will firing -he strike to a satisfactory conclusion.

UTTER ROT. UNTRUE, AND ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.

AVailii, September 20. On the Court resuming this morning, before Mr F. Y. Fraser, S.M., the 2!- men who were required to find sureties and bonds to keep the peace for twelve months, and who, at theii own request were given till this morning to find sureties, each in turn, when miestioned, replied that ho had decided not to find sureties hut to accept tho alternative and go to g 01. The Magistrate said that to seine iextent tho men had taken him by 1 surprise by adopting tins attitude. Yesotorday' all promised to find sureties. It did not seem a heroic thing to him that, after making up their minds to do the right thing, they allowed somebody not competent to give advice on the matter to cause them tc change their* minds. It did not seem to him that they possessed much strength of mind. They must ho a “glorious” hand of heroes, who wanted to' unhold a. “glorious” principle by following up and annoying and intimidating people, and even in some instances frightening women into _n state of illness, and creating public disorder. It was a. Vglorious” principle fpr ■ which thoyjnvero fighting. The Magistrate went on. to say that there ■ filak- bo intention in the wide world to‘stop picketing. They had had tlio assurance of Inspector Wri >lit that me-police would mot interfere in any attempt by the strikers at legitimate picketing or efforts for converting free labourers. It appeared that there was no principle involved bow mu H-he-*“glt>rio’usP-sprinciple* of the right to intimidate and annoy those weakei than themselves, when they were in such as to make .it safe ioi thomself|k. ‘ If that Constituted “a hero” 'hs was wrong ; in" his estimate of what the .word meant. Mr Mtrmtan asked permission to speak. v ' ’ - i '■ The Magistrate said ho would hear him. • Air Harman explained that ho had reviewed the situation seriously, and had come to the conclusion that it would bo folly to enter into a Ik nd, on account of the_ aggressive atlivudtof the police against their organisation. If they were bound, men whe smiled at a policeman or made any chance remark re his personal beauty, would receive a summons, and t.ieii bonds would bo forfeited.

His Worship said that this was “utter rot, untrue, and absolute nonsense.” It was just an attempt tc justify the attitude taken. Ho explained again that there would, bo nc curtailment to the men who found sureties in the performance of their duties as pickets, but at principle oi disorder and lawlessness would not b< permitted. He would ask whether anj “hero” present would change his mind.

Mr Cullen, Commissioner of Police in the course of a few remarks, madi it plain that the police would at all costs maintain law and order. 'J bey would protect anyone who wanted tc work, no matter who, whether fre< labourer or Federationist. The police would remain there as long a; they were wanted. There wore more police ready to come at any moment. It was only a matter of sending ;

telegram. Ho wanted the men tc clearly understand the position.

THE FINAL BATCH. The final batch of charges in connection with the following of free labourers was preferred against Walter Collins, Win. Collins, Geo. Bence, W Perry, and Mattie Biacun. Defendant; pleaded not guilty. In opening the prosecution, M. Mays said that it was regrettable that all warnings and court proceedings had not so far had the desired effect or. the’strikers. Some cf those now before the Court had been charged earlier in the week, but had escaped with the exception of Biacun. The Magistrate, in making an order to find sureties to keep the peace, increased the amount of the surety to £SO and another £SO.

The men elected to go to gaol. The number going to gaol to-day is 29, making a total since the proceeding! wore instituted of -15. Altogether there were 51 bound over, six of whom found sureties.

During the Court proceedings to-day a, number of women paraded outside the Courthouse, bearing Discards, with the inscription, “Don’t lie traitors to vonr class.” The 29 ijmonors committed to-day wore taken away from the station in two brakes, driven by policemen, to the steamer at Paoroa. ’ ! ’hey will arrive at Auckland at daylight to-morrow. An immense crowd

■i'uv them off, aim'll much cheering for flic prisoners and hooting for tlio po lice and the law. A DETERMINED MAGISTRATE. Waihi, September 20. In connection with the charge ■'gainst Walter Collins, Wm, Collins, (r. X. Bence and W. Perry, the Magistrate, in giving his decision, said that these cases wore more serious than those which had preceded them. 1?) fact,, the offences wore contumacious,

and tended to ovci ride law and order, whereas m the earlier inlormations it might reasonably bo assumed tnat tno offences had been committed in ignorance. Ho was always prepared to act leniently where men had acted in ignorance, or had rashly acceded to tho "requests ofporscr.s having some authority over them, but when it was found tnat men had set out to deliberately break and dofy_ the law_tlie position was entirely different. The in on would find that they were up against a snag in him when they so acted. They had absolutely no excuse for their actions, and each would be bound over to keep the peace for twelve months in a recognisance of £SO and one surety of £SO, or two sureties of £25 each.

Tho men stated that they would not attempt to find sureties, and intended going to gaol. The Magistrate, addressing tho strikers in the body cf the Court, drew attention to the increased bonds of the last four men, and intimated that if any further cases came under his notice he would raise the individual recognisances to £IOO, and go on raising them thereafter. ’ These offences must be stopped, and it would be well that they should recognise that it was useless to go on kicking against the law, as the law always won. It must bo understood that ho was absolutely determined that tho district under his jurisdiction should bo lawabiding and orderly. He was sorry that tne strike had occurred, and to note the suffering which the strikers uaci nad to put up with in consequence; and no was sorry, also, that a number of people who liad not been parties to the disputes should suffer. He sincerely hoped that the strike wouid oe brought to a speedy and honourable settlement, and he would, bo only too pleased to do anything ho could to tning about its termination. This ho would do willingly and ungrudgingly, and without consideration for the time

expended. In concluding, Mr Fraser said that no doubt some of the men present were under the impression limit tho informations in which they would be involved wore yet 'to be dealt with, but such was not the case. He had talked the matter over with Mr Mays and the police authorities, and it had boon decided that anything chat happened up to tho present jukcfcure .should not be made tho subject of a charge. They should start with a clean slate from to-day, and lie doped they would keep it clean. This decision would show that tnero mas ao desire on the part of the police to deal harshly with them. There was a demonstration this afternoon in the street, opposite the police station, when the 2;) prisoners wore taken off in brakes to Paeroa. though marked by loud cheering lor the men and hooting for tlio police, it was otherwise orderly. Union pickets were in attendance, and succeeded in preserving order among the large assemblage. A number of Federationists at Waikino and Karangahako, through which townships the prisoners were driven, en route to Paeroa, cheered tlio occupants of the vehicles. Tho prisoners were put on board the Paeroa, arid will reach Auckland early in the morning. A motor lire engine, driven by some of the firemen, and flying miniature rod flags, accompanied them, amid cheering from the crowd, for a short distance. Mr. 11. Semple, organiser, arrived at AVailii by the evening train. He was met at the station by about fiftystrikers. Some cheering began, but was suppressed by the Strike Committee.- In the evening he gave an openair address, and congratulated the miners on the stand they had taken.

SAFELY LODGED IN GAOL. Auckland, September 21. The twenty-nine strikers sentenced at AA r aihi were conveyed by train to Newmarket in a special carriage. At Newmarket the carriage was unhitched and attached to an engine, run along the Mount Eden railway line, which passes in front of tho gaol. Here it was stopped, and the prisoners were quietly transferred to quarters with the strikers already in the institution. There wore only one on two spectators, and- no 'demonstration whatever. ■