WAIHI DAY BY DAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 39, 9 October 1912, Page 2

WAIHI DAY BY DAY.

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL’S . f POSITION.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 8

“We regard the proposal to knock off work for twenty-four hours, as a protest against the imprisonment of the Wailii miners, as nothing more nor less than a joke,” said a member of the Wellington Trades arid Labour Council to-day to a Times representative. He also stated that the Council, had not yet considered the adv.sability or otherwise of taking part in the demonstration, nor was it likely to do so. The Council, however, sympathised with the imprisoned men, and had unanimously passed a resolution protesting against their imprisonment, and a deputation was appointed to wait on the Prime Minister to demand their immediate release. From another source the reporter learned that it was very probable that at the next meeting of the Council a motion to rescind the resolution would be proposed. IN THE COURT. ' Waihi, October 8. The Magistrate’s Court was occupied most of the day hearing a case brought by Robert Worth against Joseph Snell, butcher, Waihi, for the recovery of £69, being the cost of eleven cattle brought from Kirk Bros., Tauranga. Plaintiff stated that Snell authorised him to buy fifty head of cattle at the Te Puke sales, and that he bought the cattle for Snell as his agent. A number of these cattle were drowned while crossing the Wharepoa ferry. The matter in dispute is really who is to pay for the drowned cattle. The case is proceeding to-night, and is likely to occupy the rest of the sitting; consequently the adjourned followingup charges and charges of obscene language will not be heard. It is hinted that the reason why the Waihi strikers went to gaol was to relieve the strike pay funds, and at the same time throw their wives and families on the tender mercies of the public! The Federation of Labour certainly does not shine with any particular brilliancy over the Waihi s.ffa ir. —Oa ma ru “Ti mes. ’ ’ Of the 45 strikers at Waihi who went to gaol rather than enter into a bon 1 of £lO to keep the peace, 24 are Australians, and only 13 are New Zealanders. The rest of the party comprises two Englishmen, two Irishmen, one Canadian, one German, one Austrian, and one Dane. The proportion works out at 53.3 per cent, of Australians, and 28.8 pe. cent. New Zealanders. Another point that s’rikes attention in perusing the official index of the gaoled strikers is that nineteen, or 42.2 per cent, declare themselves as having “no religion.”