THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 102, 16 September 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

FOOLISH MARTYRDOM. MEN GO TO GAOL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Waihi, Saturday. On the resumption of the strike cases this morning the question of the fourteen defendants finding sureties of the peace for twelve mouths was entered into. Mr. Parry, president of the union, said that the men had unanimously decided not to find sureties, and would accept the alternative and go to gaol. Mr. Fraser, the Magistrate, asked them to reconsider their decision, and he would allow them ample time. He explained the nature of the bond the defendants were asked to sign, assuring them that it would not in any way interfere with the union trying to convert free laborers or any other person to their way of thinking, so long as they did not cause annoyance or molestation. Every man had a right to the public street, free from molestation. Mr. Payry said that he agreed with that. Asked again did he understand that the bond the men were asked to enter into would not interfere with members of the union converting any persons in the streets to their way of thinking, Mr. Parry said "Yes, thoroughly; but the men prefer to go to gaol on principle, rather than go back." 'Mr. Fraser: Do I understand that the principle of the men is the right to insult, to annoy, and to intimidate? Mr. Parry said that when free laborers came into the town they would be conferred with. That policy would be carried out. The Magistrate said that nobody wanted to stop the union's .propaganda, but they would have to confine themselves to talking to a' man in a civil manner. If they went outside that they would be committing a breach of the peace. In answer to a further question-Mr. Parry said that the men would go to gaol. The Bench said that if the men were quite determined to go to gaol, he had' done his best. He did not like seeing these men go to gaol on an erroneous principle. Fourteen men were taken into custody. One (D. Kemp) intimated that he would find sureties, which were soon forthcoming, and he was released.

The case of Hayden, another striker, was opened and adjourned. The decision of the defendants not to' find sureties was arrived at at a mass meeting last night. Anderson, for using bad language in a train, pleaded guilty, and was bound over to keep the peace for twelve months. g The else against O'Brien, of using insulting language, was dismissed. M. Rudd. arbitrationist, was charged with assulting O'Neil, federationist. There was a counter'charge, O'Neil v. Rudd. Both were bound*over to keep the peace for twelve months, in one surety of £2O. In connection with sure-ties for* the fourteen -defendants, Mt. Parry, president of the union, was granted permission to address the court.' He said,that there was a vital principle at stake. The union bad set its face against unlawful behaviour, and good behaviour had characterised the conduct of the strikers. If they found sureties the union would break a vital principle of the wage-earn-ing class. In connection with the sureties, two more defendants, Zenovich and Williams, have been released. They agreed to find bail, on the earnest solicitations of their wives.

The men taken to gaol were E. Dye, B. Campbell, A. Lindwarl, Harry Parrv, 11. J. Powell, 11. Sorensen, A. Greig, F. Collins, F. W. Sykes, E. Almond and E. J.-Dwyer. The wives of the men were allowed to bid farewell to their husbands before the latter were taken to the Waihi lock-up. MR. BARRY AND THE BENCH. Waihi, Last Night. In the course of the address,by Mr. Parry, president of the union, to the Court, yesterday, the speaker -emphasised his economic views. There was, he said, a fixed principle that every worker that belonged to the wage-workers' class should never do anything against that class. He contended that the evidence in these cases bad been conclusively in their favor, from an economic standpoint. They viewed justice differently to law as laid down in the Statute Book. While the law remained upon that book it was the duty of His Worship to administer the law in its entirety. He understood that in all ages reformers had brought about amendments of laws by revolt, and the working-class miners could not turn round and stultify the policy which their •ancestors in all ages had striven for. They were not satisfied, from their point of view, with the law's idea of justice. The men had decided unanimously not to find sureties, and, as an alternative, would go to gaol. Mr. Parry went on to say that outside of the strike he had told the local sergeant of police that they were going to maintain order. The sergeant replied that lie was pleased to hear that, and- that lie would not be a party to getting extra police here. It had never, said Mr. Semple, at any stage been necessary to have police reinforcements in Waihi. Mr. Fraser: Do I understand that principle means to insult, to annoy and to intimidate meni; In reply, Mr. Parry said that in event of free laborers coming in, members of his organisation would confer with them. That rpolicy would be carried out. Mr. Fraser said that was not the point. There was nothing wrong in a man speaking to another man in the street, but a crowd was not necessary. Mr. Parry replied that they were not responsible for what a crowd did. Mr. Fraser rejoined that the whole point was whether the liberty of the subject could be interfered with. That' was the point of law they ihad to look to. There was no objection to moral suasion to get a man over to their way of thinking, so long as their conduct was free from annoyance or insult. If the engine-drivers committed a breach of the peace he would deal with them in the same way. He was not ..particular as to who it was. They had a right to talk to any man about bis principles so long as they did not molest or intimidate. Nobody wished to stop the strike propaganda. Mr. Fraser asked again if thev would take time to reconsider their decision. He was not asking much, and. if they would understand how little was being asked-, they would agree to sign the bond. Mr. Parry: We thoroughly understand that. After some further discussion, the matter closed, and thirteen men were taken into custody. Patrick Seholland, for using insulting language, was bound over to. keep the peace. J. Doel, charged with" assaulting an arbitrationist, was fined £2, and required to enter into a bond to keep the peace for twelve months. He was given till Monday to pay the fine and find sureties. The charges against W. Collins and Chas. Parkin of using obscene language were dismissed. Eleven prisoners who refused to find sureties were taken away by the evening train last night. About 200 persons, including a number of women, saw them oil' at the railway station. Loud cheers were given to the prisoners as the train left the station. It is alleged that some-ofJihe wives of the prisoners stated-that if! their hus--1 ihanils attempted to sign .the .bond or

find sureties, they would not let, them enter their homes.

| Sopie thirty more following-up ' charges are down for hearing. The de- \ fendants have generally intimated that, in the event of their being required to find sureties to keep the peace, they will accept the alternative and go to . gaol. The union is holding a general public meeting to-night.