WAIHI DAY BY DAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 73, 19 November 1912, Page 6

WAIHI DAY BY DAY.

THE ARBITRATIO N ISIS’ PROTESTS. MEETING AT THE THAMES. (Per Press Association.) Thames, November 18. The Rev. Cleary (Vicar of St. George’s, Wailii), Mr Budd (President of the newly formed Miners’ Union) of Wailii, and, Mr Poster, speaking as a delegation from the Arbifcrationists of Wailii, addressed a large public meeting at the Minors’ Union Hall tonight. The object of the delegation was to refute the incorrect statements made by the Federation leaders, supporters and women, as to the condition of affairs at Wailii.

They detailed the incidents leading up to the determined action of the workers, proclaiming the rights of British subjects to work without molestation and without police protection, which had suggested to them that they were being treated as prisoners. They merely determined to assort their rights ns British subjects, and it was the insults which many men and women had been subjected to for months that 1 caused them to take the measures they ( did. No insults were offered to wo-j men by the Arbitrationists. The streets of Wailii were now free to all, and a much happier state of things existed than under the system of 01ganised insult and terrorism exercised by the Red- Federation. The stories of burning houses, assaults on men

and women, and sensational statements made as to maltreatment we.ro emphatically denied. by the speakeis. Mr Ridd aroused great • enthusiasm by stating that, Waihi was now free of the pernicious, anarchistic tenets of the Federation, and the workers were determined that it, would remain so. The Fcderationists held an open air meeting in close proximity to the hall. Waihi, November 19. A number of informations have been laid in connection with the recent troubles between the Arbitratiomsts and Fcderationists to come on tor hearing next Tuesday. There is no change in the condition of Constable Wade. The chief trouble is his excessive weakness. _ ' , A story was in circulation yesterday afternoon that a man horseback, while journeying from Ivotikoti to Waihi, was bailed up by an armed man. The former alleged that when bailed up he galloped across country, and was hotly pursued by the armed man until the latter was brought to a standstill in a swamp. The pursued man alleges revolver shots were fired at a distance of about a quarter of a mile. The police made an investigation, but discovered nothing to substantiate the r _ story, and place little credence upon it.