THE TROUBLE AT WAIHI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 34, 3 October 1912, Page 3

THE TROUBLE AT WAIHI.

Mill's AT WORK

HOSTILE DISPLAY

(Per Press Association.) Waihi, October 3

The following up tactics of strikers and women when the men went to work this morning were very persistent. A batch of workers numbering about fourteen started off under police escort from the Central Hotel. Meanwhile an immense number of men and women had congregated in the vicinity of the hotel, and as the workers stepped on to the pavement they wore assailed with a volley of names such as “scabs,” “traitors,” etc., from the women as well as from ( the men, the women adopting the much more aggressive attitude than their male associates. The police, under Sergeant Miller, who formed an escort, also came in for a good deal of abuse. Expressions such as “You blue-coated scabs,” were hurled at them by both men and women. The latter Closed in on the police and workers in such a way as to Cause the police some little bother in getting along. ' One of them, holder than the rest, made a mild attack on Sergeant Miller, who turned instantly and demanded the name of the woman. She immediately denied having committed an assault, and a chorus of voices took up the cry that there was no assault.

A procession was headed by women bearing a banner. Hundreds of nonworkers had tickets attached to their hats, with the inscription “Remember Waihi and the gaoled strikers,”; while numbers of women boro placards inscribed, “Don't he traitors to your class.” Two women ‘.stood on the

footpath opposite No. 5 shaft with a banner on which was printed “Workers of the world, unite.” After a while they proceeded along Seddon street, and occupied a rise on the road which passes the Grand Junction mine. They were followed by about fifty ol the women folk, who after ascending the rise, sang with much vigour, ‘-‘The Red Flag.” The banner was then transferred to the mounted pickets, who cantered through the town, two abreast, with the emblem uplifted. Scarcely had the sound of the mine whistle died away when a shout went up from the group of non-workers that “The masters are calling us to work, but we are not going,” and not likely to this side of Xmas,” added some of those standing round. Throughout the day knots of both sexes gathered in the streets, and cheering and boohooing took place at short intervals as something turned up which pleased or annoyed the gathering. The demonstrations on men coming off the shift; this afternoon were of a much more pronounced character than in the morning, and hut for the adequate protection of the police it would have been difficult to predict what might have happened. Men, womeig and hoys hooted and screeched till they were hoarse. The noise at times was almost deafening. A youth threw a stone amongst the workers who wore being escorted to their homes. Police Commissioner Cullen happened to witness the act, and in a moment lie seized the culprit and handed him to the custody of two constables.

A number of school cadets took up a stand where the workers passed down the track off the,company’s property, and on the appearance of the latter they gave them three hearty cheers. In two or three instances the wives of the escorted workers met their husbands at the gate, facing hundreds of hooting and screeching men and women, The news received here to-night that 25 men, 18 of whom arc experienced minors, have been sent from Auckland hy the Waihi Company is not credited by the strikers. The feeling against the company and those who resinned work to-day is intense, and the follow-ing-iip tactics of to-day are to he continued. The strike committee contend that only four members of their Union have resumed work. DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS. Wellington, October 3. This morning the following tele-

gram was received by Mr Pryor, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Association: “Over 200 men started this morning, including miners, drivers, mechanics, blacksmiths, etc. The Federation demonstration was very flat. The women were prominent.” The Federation of Labour has received the following telegram from Mr P. Fraser, member of the executive now at Waihi: “Great success here. Only four miners by occupation, three of them employed on the surface, return to work. Twenty others were drafted from Waikino, mostly Maori boys and derelicts. There was great enthusiasm. Crowds of workers and their wives were everywhere.” R. SEMPLE AGAIN. Wellington, October 3. The Waterside Workers’ Union unanimously passed a hearty vote of confidence in Mr Robert Semple, the organiser, adding: “We admire the mill taut attitude adopted by him in fighting the battle of class warfare ovisting to-day in our midst against the despots of capitalism, who arc trying to crush out of existence tiie Federation of Labour, the executive of which body we are pledged to support to the bitter end, and which body we, as a body .of workers, have legally and duly elected to act as our honoured representatives in. any industrial dispute that may arise between the workers and the employing class.”

The Thorndon branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants passed a resolution protesting against the imprisonment of the men at Waihi, and commending them for the stand they have taken in upholding their principles.