THE GAOLED MINERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 144, 5 November 1912, Page 4

THE GAOLED MINERS.

Those members of the House of Representatives who kave been kind-heartedly seeking to secure the release of the imprisoned Waihi miners are, no doubt, actuated by motives with which we can all sympathise, but it is impossible to escape from the logfc of the ment's attitude in the matter. The men ! were -proved to have been guilty of conduct that was calculated to cause a breach of the peace. They have gone far beyond the bounds of "peacefal picketing" in their efforts to intimidate workers who would not adopt the policy of the Federation of Labor, and their use of threats and abuse mads police intervention inevitable. The members of the Engine-drivers' Union had the right of ordinary citizens to the protection of the law. The Magistrate who heard the cases imposed no punishment for past offences, but demanded that the miners should give a promise of good behaviour for the future. There was not a man in Waihi who could not have secured the simple surety that was required, nothing more, than the signature of one of his mates or a Union officer being necessary. But the offenders preferred to go to gaol, presumably in support of a claim to be allowed to make life unbearable to every worker who could not see eye to eye with them on questions of industrial policy. The position is a very unfortunate one, and we have no doubt that the Government would be heartily glad to be able to release the prisoners. But to do so while the mesi refuse to give a promise of good behaviour would be to bring the law into contempt by admitting its inability to preserve order. The strikers can leave gaol Avhenever they want to without making any sacrifice of principle, or suffering any kind of humiliation.