THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 106, 20 September 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

THE STRIKERS IX GAOL . By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Thursday. The Waihi strikers confined in Auckland Gaol for refusing to find sureties to keep the peace, beyond deprivation of liberty, are not under any hardship. The food is plain but wholesome, and they are confined in a yard by themselves and have no social intercourse with other prisoners in the gaol. The library is at their disposal, and they can receive any literature supplied by friends. They are, however, deprived of tobacco. They can be visited by friends once a month. The gaoler states that in the event of any person wishing to make arrangements for their release by finding the required sureties, he will be only too glad to relax this regulation. THE VIEWS OF THE WORKERS. Auckland, Thursday. The waterside workers carried a resolution condemning the imprisoning of the Waihi strikers for peaceful picketing and demand their instant release from prison. At a meeting of the Council of the United Labour Party, a motion protesting against the imprisonment of the Waihi strikers was negatived by 19 votes to 4, on the ground that the men were imprisoned, not for striking, but for breaking the law. INDIGNANT CANTERBURY. Ohristchurch, Last Night. The secretary of the Labourers Union, which is affiliated with the Federation of Labour, telegraphed to the Prime Minister to-day that the Union strongly protests against the imprisonment of the Waihi men and demands their immediate release also. They wired to Mr. Payne, M.P., on similar terms, with the addition "Move in the matter at once." A BATCH OF CONVICTIONS. Waihi, Last Night. The following were charged with following free laborers on September 1 in an offensive and threatening manner:— Adams, Archer, Pcrkin, Onion, Lord, Win-gate, Lindwell, Neagle, Young, A. Lindwall and Bond. All the defendants pleaded not guilty. Charges against O'Grady, Bond, Stamlridge and W. Lcnnon, for following another free laborer, were also preferred, and they also pleaded not guilty. Evidence in support of the informations was given by constables and the men followed. Only one witness was called for the defence, but the defendant in this ease declined to go into the witness box. Mr. Smith, who conducted trie ease for the defendants, contended that the men had not been guilty of any offence. The men had only been doim? their duty, from the organisation's point of view.

The Magistrate said that it was most regrettable to see these men get into this trouble. It was a question of differences between the police and members of the union. It was an offence against public order. In tbe case of the free laborer Best, he could not see what good purpose could be. attained by following him up. Apparently therd was no attempt made by the strikers or pickets in the matter of "conversion." Best must have been recognised as a man beyond redemption from the strikers' standpoint, so that no good effect could follow, and it could only result in causing annoyance. Hayden's case 1 was another example. There was no such thing as police supervision in the ease of a person bound over to keep the peace. Legitimate picketing was not in tbe least affected by signing'a bond, and he could not see where a'ny hardship was imposed. All that he could do was to make an order in the usual form, that these men enter into a recognisance for the sum of £lO, and another surety of £lO to keep the peace for twelve months. The Magistrate went on to say that the police would have no objection to a reasonable number of pickets to converse freely with the engine-drivers or free laborers, providing the men did not absolutely object to the pickets. There was no intention of placing any obstacles in the way of legitimate picketing, and attempts to convert those opposed to them. It was only incumbent upon them not to adopt such an attitude as might cause annoyance to those followed, or provoke breaches of the peace. He would instruct the police not to prevent legitimate efforts at conversion. Inspector Wright said that the police were quite prepared to do as the Magistrate had suggested, but it must be made clear to the strikers that they would not permit following, if those followed objected. Gaynor, a member of the Strike Committee_ was charged with an offence In surrounding engine-drivers in a public place in a threatening and offensive manner. Defendant pleaded not guilty, fie admitted being with the crowd, but denied being offensive. The evidence oJ Engine-drivers Thompson and Langdon and the police was conclusive, in the opinion of the Magistrate, and Gaynor was ordered to find a personal surety of £lO and another £lO ho keep the peace for twelve months. In all the cases time was asked to find sureties. The Magistrate agreed to give the men till to-morrow morning. It would appear, from what can be gathered to-night, that the men Avho have been asked to'find sureties, will not make much effort in that direction. F. Archer pleaded not guilty to charges of using obscene language at Waikino. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate dismissed the charge against Archer, remarking that he. seemed a decent sort of a fellow, and although the weight of evidence was against him he was not inclined to convict. The fact that proceedings had been instituted against him would act as a warning and a deterrent. Adams was convicted, and the Magistrate said that the case was entirely different to that of Archer. Defendant had previously been convicted of a similar ofl'ence, but he was loth to send him to prison, and if he would undertake to control his tongue he would do no more, than indict a fine. Adams promised to do so, and when it was seen that, the costs totalled ,C 8 lis 3d a fine was not imposed. In conclusion, !li? Magistrate remarked that the cases so far brought under his notice bad made it apparent that there had been some reason for police interference. The present proceedings will conclude to-morrow, with informations alleging offences committed at Waikino. Tn all to-day 25 men were bound over to keep the peace. A portion of the treatment plant at the Waikino battery was put into commission to-day.