A STARTLING DENOUEMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 61, 12 November 1913, Page 5

A STARTLING DENOUEMENT

Arrest of Strike Leaders: Seiple, Bailey, Fraser, Holland k Young. Bail Refused Sempie, Holland and Young. Remanded for a Week. Debate in Parliament. \ [I"JSR JpRJWS AdSOOIATION.]

AT WELLINGTON. STRIKE LEADERS ARRESTED. NEWSPAPER EDITOR GAOLED. Wellington, November 11. . The arrest of the prominent strike leaders was carried out in a dramatic manner this evening. A large croud of Federationists went out to Petone to attend a mass meeting, accompanied by the Waterside Band. On returning to Lamb ton Station, the strains-of "Auld Lang Syne" were just dying aw'ay as the train slowed down, and the passengers stepped on to the platform. Eight detectives stepped forward and quickly secured the three men, namely, Robert Sempie, organiser of the Federation of Labor; George Bailey, who has- been chairman of strike meetings in .the Post Office Square for the past fortnight; Peter Fraser, secretary of the Social Democratic Party. The detectives hurried the prisoners off, to the Lambton police-station, accompa'nied by a crowd of people and the Waterside Band. Fraser is charged with having, on October 29, at Wellington, incited persons to resist the police in the execution of their duty, and inciting people to steal food.

THE CHARGES AGAINST THE LEADERS. HOLLAND'S SECOND ALLEGED OFFENCE. / Wellington, November 11. Bail was offered for the arrested men, but it could not be granted till they had appeared before a .Magistrate, so they spent the night in the lock-up. The charge against Sempie is that on November Ist he incited person:to resist the constables and need word: implying he would undertake if there was any shooting to shoot Commissioner Cullen.

The first charge against Fraser u that on October 29th he incited resistance to the police, and suggested that the workers should help themselves to food even if a few doors had to be burst.

The charge against Bailey is that on October 20th he said that the grooms attending the horses of the mounted constables should be induced to cease work, and suggested dropping a few matches or indulging in a little sabot-

Against Holland, there are four charges: On October 26th of inciting to resist constables and to commit a broach of the peace by suggesting the use of piefchandles "and have a pick at the end of it," using similar language at the Basin Resyrve, on which occasion ho mentioned lie bad boon sentenced to two years.' fimprisoniment for sedition at Broken Hill; on Nov. 2nd, of Urging, amongst other things that the sailors from H.M.S. Psyche should remember where their iiiierer.t-* lay and point their guns accordingly, and that the railway men should refuse to carry free labourers; also that the police should tear off their uniforms and stand in with the strikers. ARREST OF THE "REDS" PRESIDENT. ALL THE ACCUSED REMANDED. BAIL REFUSED SEMPLE AND HOLLAND. Wellington, November 12. W. T. Young, President of the Federation of Laoour and Secretary ot the Wellington branch of the •faeanien's Union, was arrested this morning on a charge of sedition, and brought before the Magistrate's Court.

Semple and Bailey are charged with making seditious speeches J Harry Holland, editor of the Maoriland Worker, was arrested at fiis home in Brooklyn to-night, and also charged with sedition.

THE SEAMEN. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS' NOTICE GIVEN. .Wellington, November 11. A meeting of seamen was held today to, consider the strike matters. About 500 attended, and it was -unanimously decided to endorse the action of the conference on Monday in deciding that all seamen should give twentyfour hours' notice. EXTRACT FROM THE ACT. In view of the notice given by the seamen to cease work, the 1 following, extract from the Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Act, 1909, is of interest :—Section 57 provides—(l) The Minister may. if lie thinks fit, and upon such conditions (if any) as bethinks fit to impose, exempt any ship from any specified requirement contained in, or prescribed in, pursuance, of the principal Act, or of this Act, or dispense with the observance of any such requrement in the case of any ship; if lie is satisfied that compliance ■ with' the requirement is unnecessary in the circumstances of the case, and that the action taken, or provision made as respects the subject matter of the requirement in the case of the ship, is as effective as, or more effective than actual compliance with the requirement. SEAMEN AT DUNEDIN NOT COINC OUT. Dunedin, November 11. A meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Seamen's Union was held tonight. There were about 120 members present, and the meeting lasted over two hours. It is understood that • the seamen unanimously decided to stand by the agreements and that later in the day a genuine message was received from Mr. Belcher advising the Manuka's men to stand by their boat, and not to come out. It is rumored to-day that a telegram had been received at Port Chalmers purporting to emanate from Mr Belcher calling on the men of the Manuka, which is to arrive at Port Chalmers to-morrow morning, to "Come out." , It was also stated that later intelligence proved this first telegram to be bogus. NONE OF THEM MAORILANDERS. Wellington, November 12. None of the leaders arrested were born in New Zealand. Semple, who is 39 years of age, is from New South Wales. Bailey, who is also 39 years old, was born in Guernsey. Holland's age is 46. He is a native of New South Wales. Fraser, aged 29, is from Scotland.

Semple, Holland, Bailey, and Eraser also appeared. At an early hour, the Court was packed to its utmost capacity. A large body of mounted and foot specials, accompanied by regular ponce, guarded all approacnes and entrances toJ.ho Cpurt. Others lined tne walls on each side of the Court room with drawn batons. Mr Riudei.', S.M., presided .

Young's Case was Called First. * Ho was charged with using seditious words at the Basin lteserve on Sunday, October 2G, when he said: "if the ponce force is coming to suppress us, we will undertake to mass ten or fifteen thousand armed men ready to protect themselves as armed men; if the police use batons, give them one back." Ho was also charged with, on the same date, inciting persons to resist the police, and was further I charged with inciting a person to commie a breach of the peace. Mr O'ltegan appeared for the accus- ! ed, and applied lor bail. This was granted in his own recognisance of £250, and two sureties oi .i. 230 on the indictablo offences, but was refused on the summary charge. \oang was remanded for a week. Semple, Firasar, Bailey and Holland wo.wi each charged as above. The cases were brought separately. All tiie five accused wore remanded for ;; week. Bail was refused in the cases of Semple and Holland, and was not applied for in tiie eases of Fraser and Bailey. I Holland, when charged, dramatically stated that lie did not intend to plead. WORKING THE WHARVES. Wellington, November 12. j Although the weather was showery, work on 'lie wharves by the arbitrationists was continued this morning. The Dorset is also being brought alongside and worked.

THE STRIKERS* MEETING HOUSE FROM PILLAR TO POST. Wellington, November 12. The strikers having been turned out of the Harbour Hoard sheds,, where they were to meet, obtained the use of the old Theatre Itoyal, which is now shut up. The Crown, however, has just acquired the lease, so their tenure was short-lived. After holdings one meeting, they found they would have to look elsewhere and obtained the use oi the King's Picture Theatre. LOYAL UNIONS. Wellington, November 11. The storemen decided to-night not to down tools. One-horse vehicle owners decided not to handle any work. The Drivers' Union has withdrawn from the Federation. It is understood t\hat the timber workers and plumbers will,not respond to the call to .strike. Auckland, November 11. A special meeting of the Auckland Operative Tailors' Union was held in the Trades' Hall this evening. About lot) members were present. A secret ballot was taken on a motion to strike, the voting being 32 for, and 112 against. The meeting decided to make a°voluntary levy in aid of the strik

of the House, and here they sat quiet in the hope that something would happen. AT AUCKLAND. "MOVE ON, PLEASE!" THE EFFECT AT THE EXHIBITION 'UIL.DIHCS. Auckland, November 11. The uniform police and mounted men have been adopting very energetic measures in the direction ol maintaining Queen and Customs street: clear of large crowds and in keeping the traffic on the move between Customs street intersection and the Post Office. The launch patrol on tin water is being vigilantly maintained. ::nd there is little possibility of a sur prise counter-demonstration. Carting to and fro was freely carried on with very small mounted escorts, and no trouble was threatened at all.

It is stated that a number of carters of one firm have returned to work. Compared with the bustling activity which prevailed at the Exhibition Buildings and grounds until a few days ago, the scene within i> now one of accentuated quietude. Most of the stalls in the hall of industries and machinery courts have been left half finished, and a complete halt has occurred on all structural works which were being carried out by staffs of the exhibition executive and the Wonderland Amusements Company. Carpenters in the employ of the Government are engaged in the direction of departmental courts and of a bridge which the Railway Department is having placed on the most elevated portion of the grounds. Quite a sheaf of telegrams has.been received from country districts by the executive of the Employers' Association from those anxious either to come to town and work or are wiiling to act as special constables. The Waterside Workers' Union, registered under the Arbitration Act, to-day numbered 370 members, 75 more than can be at present employed.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

SIR JOSEPH WARD URGES THE

SECRET BALLOT.

COME S:-SAR? PASSAGES

Wellington, November 11. When the House met this cfternoon, Sir Joseph Ward asked the Prime Minister if he could state what the position was regarding the strike. The Hon. \V. F. Massey, replying,

said that the proposals which Mr Hallay, the Conciliation Commissioner, had submitted to both parties had been turned down. At present there was [ess prospect of a settlement than there was a week ago. In Auckland .'.net Wellington Arbitration Unions .lad been formed. In one there were iOar hundred members and in the other three hundred to four hundred. Whatever 'the settlement wasj those men must he safeguarded,' -There was a very strong feeling against the Fed oration of Labor, and if the orgauisa tion would stand out of the way he though thai, the trouble could be settled in twenty-four hours.

Sir Joseph Ward said that the matter whs of so 'much importance tha ; he was not going to remain silent even if he wwe•misunderstood out sjide, , n J3ccausp..;U io parties could not ;";Toe. h,e was-, not, going to sit still and s'o the country rained. He was o

opinion that the whole matter should !)o taken out of the hands of both parties, and legislation passed which would ensure an immediate settlement. Both sides of the House should afire'e upon a Bill to meet the difficulty. It could ho t passed;,at one sitting. The possibilities 6r a recurrence of th?

strike should he obviated. The Eil! should provide that no strike or lock out could ho made before a secret hal lot had been held before an out ;ide* tribunal, with scrutineers from Loth sides. Special penalties should b imposed for breaches. Secret ballot" should 1)0 taken now by the watersid ers, and the legality of the strike determined. Voices: Ther would not do it! Sir J. Ward, continuing, said the agreement should be submitted to both sides, and if not acceptable to either one they should lie submitted to a tri bunal of, say, three judges. Ther: was an impasse because the country's employers wanted the Arbitration Court and the men would not have it. This was the twentieth day of the strike, and thousands of people in the country were being ruined, and were they all to stand aside and see tha' state of affairs continued day by day: Who could say that it would end in a week F The House was the highest tribunal in the land, and surely they ought to be.able to establish a position where the strike could bi settled on general lines. He had been against the strike right through, holding that the principle was no. good enough.

The Hon. W. F. Massey, replying, said that Sir J. Ward had more faith i't legislation than any other member of the House. He failed to see how bgislation eould effect a settlement. la his opinion it would have hoe:; better if Sir Joseph Ward had not made Ids speech. Cries of "Oli!" and uproar, and "Party, party!'' Mr Massey said that lie was not bringing in party, but the interjections of Air Hanan and Mr Isitt were worthy of those gentlemen. Mr Payno: "Oh, you miserable dod-

Tho Speaker ordered the withdrawal ef the words. Mr Payne complying, after repeating them throe times.

Mr Massey,. resuming, said that there was no legislation possible that could settle the trouble. They could not force the employers to continue work. He made reference to the foreigners concerned in the trouble, and maintained that if fhey had to deal vfith New Zealanders 'it would have been settled long ago. He had already brought b fore the TJcu;o 1 gis lation to prevent strikes, and' hoped to see it passed this year.

Mr (.'. W. Russell: Wo want a. settlement of the present trouble! Mr Massey: Legislation won't do it. Things, he said, were already looking up, and 12 boats were being worked that day in Auckland.

Sir Joseph Ward said that the 1890 stride had h;jcn discuss* l *] on the floor

AT* LYTTELTON.

TROUBLE WITH THE PATEENA. MANNED BY OFFICERS.

Lyttelton, November 11

The disorganisation or the Lyttel-ton-Wellington ferry service has been regarded with quiet satisfaction by the strikers. After tho "hold-up" of the Maori last We<faesday, the Map ourika made one trip from Wellington, and the Maunganui two, while the i:v!e Queen of the South made a round trip with mails only! When it was ancouiiced yesterday, that the Pateena Was being placed in the ferry service. the news was received with incredulity by many of the strikers, who confidently predicted that she would not be able to ship a crew. It was with considerable astonishment that they learnt'd this morning that the Pateena bad left Wellington manned entirely by the masters, officers and engineers. It was a thing unheard of, and many if them did not like it. It showed that firemen in this case, at all events, could e be done'without. The coming of the Pateena was a red-letter event in the history of the strike, and iter arrival in port created intense interest and attracted a great crowd tc the wharf. The sight of the masters and mates making the ship fast under the orders of other masters and mater vas a sight worth seeing. The Pateena arrived at Lyttelton at 12.45 p.m., and her passengers and mails left by special train for Chrlstchurch shortly ifterwards. The steamer needed bunker coal. A hulk was hauled alongside, and soon the permanent hands of the Union Company's shore staff were liar* at it getting the coal on board. The Pateena is to sail tg-night on arrival of the 7.-10 p.m. train on her return to Wellington.

After the train with the passengers had left for Christohurch, a movement on the part of several of the striker:, on the wharf hinted at possibilities md a moment or two later determined attempts were made \o board the ves >el, but they were easily repelled by the police. A large number of strikers then gathered at the main gangways, and F. Lurch, their president, asked permission to go on board in order to interview the men engaged in stoking in the ship. Mr Watkins, marine superintendent, informed Mr Lurch that lie could have permission to go aboard and interview the men down below, provided the strikers made no demonstration after the result of the interview was made known. With some reluctance the desired promise was given, and Lurch Mas allowed on board, and went below. He returned within a minute to the wharf with a doleful countenance, and, addressing the strikers, said: "Look here, men, it's no good! I've interviewed those fellows, and they admit that they have been 'scabs' since they were one day old. They say they are going to remain 'scabs' for the rest of their lives." This announcement was greeted

with vigorous hoot", and a proposal was marie to "rush the s v ir>." Lurch and others, however, reminded the militants of the promise given not to rrin'l?" n demonstration, but a few of

(he more militant were not satisfied with this, and a oroposal wm then mooter! to east off the vessel's mooring ropes from the wharf. i\hont a counl ■> nf dozen strikers started to patrol th'J length of the shin, while others looked on. The officers of the boat and police, however, had in the meantime been warned. A sham look-ouf was kept on the actions of +hr.,r- on the wharf. n „,l tho demr>*i«- v "-ion Pwsled out. It is understood that Lurch's

"scabs" from the feeding-bottle are engineers of the laid-up ships, working the stokehold. Other engineers, permanent hands, and arbitrationists, ire acting as trimmers. The Fatsena tnen eased off a few reel from the wharf and began coaling. AN APPRECIATION. At the meeting of the Stratford Jitamber of Commerce last night the president J. B. Richards) referred .0 the strike. He said that in his minion the Chamber should not pass >ver the matter without some reference being made to it. He moved chat the Chamber place on record, with special reference to the men of the stratford district, their appreciation of the services of the special constables in assisting to maintain, constituted law tnd in protecting the industries and commerce of the country. He said that ie was sure that everybody recognised that the prosperity and well-being >f the community depended upon the irotection of the products of the country. And when they found men who were prepared to sacrifice their time, tnd to some extent their skins, on behalf of that prosperity and the law under which we had the privilege of living, it was meet that they should ilace on record their appreciation of :heir services.

Mr Thomson suggested that there should be added to the resolution a '•lause supporting the Government in the action it had taken in the matter.

Mr Jackson : We are supposed tojoe non-political. Mr Richards said his resolution only dealt with the services rendered to the country by the special constables. They had seen a duty and were fulfilling it. Others may have seen the duty but had not carried it out. The motion was v>conded by Mr Young and carried. Mr Thomson then moved that the Government's action in connection with the strike be approved, and the Government assured of the Chamber's moral support. This was seconded by Mr Young and carried.

AS OTHERS VIEW THE STRIKE. PRACTICAL SYMPATHY. ATTEMPT TO CUT OFF OUR AUSTRALIAN TRADE. r ßv Electric Telegraph—Cotytuoht] [United Press Association.] (Received 10.30 a.in.) Sydney, November 12. The Illawarra Colliery Employees' Association have voted £IOO to the New Zealand strikers. Deputations of 'Newcastle miners' and wharf laborers intend to ask the! Minister of Labor to prevent steamers loaded in New Zealand coming to Australia during the New Zealand strike with a view to preventing it extending to the Commonwealth. The New. Zealand timber aboard the Kamona was unloaded at Newcastle, and she then took 2200 tons of coal For Port Chalmers.