AFTER THE BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 153, 15 November 1912, Page 5

AFTER THE BATTLE.

[ AFFAIRS AT WAIIiI. DEATH OF EVANS. CONCUSSION "OF* THE BRAIN. " By Telegraph—Press Association.. Waihi, Thursday. A fatal sequel to the disturbance which took place at the Miners' Union Hall on Tuesday morning occurred last night at 10.30, when George Frederick Evans, who was struck -with a baton by Constable Wade, when the latter, it is presumed, wa3 shot by Evans, died as the result of his injuries. The cause of death was laceration and concussion of the brain, caused by a blow from a baton. From the time that Evans was taken to the hospital there was scarcely any hope of his recovery, as in such cases death almost, invariably results. He was taken into the institution in a semi-conscious condition, and shortly afterwards became wholly unconscious, and remained in this condition until he breathed his last.

An account of the disturbance, including the shooting of the constable, and the batoning of Evans, has already been chronicled. Briefly, it is alleged that Constable Wade was following Evans when the latter suddenly shot him in the abdomen. The constable immediately closed with his assailant and struck him on the head with his baton, felling him to the ground. After this the constable partially collapsed and was taken to the hospital. Later Evans was also taken to the same institution. Deceased, who was 28 years of age, was an Australian, married, and leaves a wife and two young children. When the strike occurred deceased was employed as an assistant stamper man at the Grand Junction battery. RELEASE OF IMPRISONED STRIKERS Auckland, Thursday. The whole of the imprisoned strikers have been released on finding <bonds to keep the peace. MR. PARRY'S MANIFESTO. Wellington, Thursday. Mr. Parry telegraphed to the headquarters of the Federation of Labor today for funds "to make provision for women and children driven from home. Free laborers breaking into homes and threatening their lives. Men forced into bush." lla adds that he is releasing all the men from Mount Eden to-day, as < there is no other way out of the difficulty at present. The Federation executive has sent a telegram to members of the Miners' Union at Waihi urging them ■ not to seek employment there. They state that strike pay will be maintained. "Police terrorism will be made know for dastardly outrage on liberties it is, and facts rammed home. Your fight will live. Truth will triumph."

The executive has also sent all federated unions and Australia a telegram stating that terrorism reigns in Waihi. The strikers are compelled to hide in the bush for fear of their lives, and 'scabs" are breaking into their homes. American methods are adopted by the police and employers. Only thirty members of the' union at Waihi "scabbed." POSITION AT WAIHI. FEDERATIONISTS LEAVING. • Waihi, Thursday. . A deputation of members of the Borough Council waited on the new union officials this morning and pointed out that as the new union commanded the situation it should see that fair play was given to Federationists. A union official replied that it was the intention to prevent members molesting in any way Federationists.

Since Tuesday morning about eighty leading Fedenitionists have left the town, some being accompanied by their wives and families. A BUMPTIOUS AGITATOR.. TROUBLE AT lIUNTLY. Auckland, Last Night. Mr. Parry, president of the Waihi Workers' Union, who was released from gaol yesterday, stated that ho-was confident that he could cope, with the position, and proposed to see it through. He may proceed at once to Wellington to confer with other members of the Federation executive.

At Huntly last night there was a heated exchange between the Federationists and arbitrationists, which led to a fight, in which two "Feds" were badly punished. The feeling between the two sections there is daily becoming more bitter. THE FEDERATION OF LABOR. A FRESH CAMPAIGN. Wellington, Last Night. The Federation of Labor executive has passed a resolution condoling with Mrs. Evans on the death of her husband, and pledging the Federation to see her and her children provided for, and stating that Evans was a hero sacrificed to the blood lust of capitalism. The Federation representatives will speak at various centres next Sunday regarding Waihi. Messrs. Kennedy and Holland will speak at Wellington, Mr. Webb at Timaru, and Mr. Sempie at Christchurch, and Messrs. Parry and Fraser probably at Auckland. The executive will reassemble in Wellington next Tuesday.

THE RED FEDERATION. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. WILD INSINUATIONS. RECKLESS STATEMENTS. 'Wellington, Last Night. Tlie Federation of Labor officials supply the following:— "The exciting events of the last few days at Waihi are but the culmination of the plot to smash the strike and destroy the Federation of Labor. The press has given one side of happenings, but there is another Hide —the press side is from one source, and a source notorious for its hatred to militant unionism. The other side is from the men directly concerned in the fight for legitimate work-ing-class organisation. The reading public of New Zealand is being deceived as to the nature of the union and its attitude. There is a reign of terror at Waihi, but the blacklegs and the police are the terrorists. Hand-in-glovc, these twin-strike-breaking factors have promoted riot and lawlessness. Firearms and batons have been used by both. Batons have been made at the mine works for the blacklegs, and all are armed with them. The disturbances of Saturday. Monday, and Tuesday last were aided and abetted by the police. Tt is the strikers who have been abused and attacked—their womanfolk who have been insulted and maltreated. No striker has lifted a hand against a blackleg, except in self-defence. Everything alleged to be done on the miners' union's side has been exaggerated and misrepresented. What could unionists <lo, even had they wished, with one hundred armed and mounted police opposing them? The workers of New Zealand are urged not to be hoodwinked. The real story of the Waihi

/ I ; conspiracy lias yet to be told. It will <be I toR And it will stagger New Zealand. / "Never before m the industrial history of New Zealand has such an extraordinary situation been created as that for which the Masaey Government, acting for the mine-owners, is to-day responsible. «Some hundreds of half-casto Maoris and 'toughs' and derelicts from the cities have been drafted into the town of Waihi, ostensibly to work as 'scabs,' ibut really, as we insist, to carry on a, campaign oi lawlessness and outrage for. the purpose of smashing the strike. They are being organised under police supervision, with money .provided by the mine-owners, and no man and no child is for the time being safe. They

have been day by day let loose on the streets, with police guarding them, and every time a striker appeared the cry has been raised: "Come on—we'll kill the b da!' Whenever attacks have been made by these 'toughs' and hooligans, and the strikers have successfully defended themselves, the police have unfailingly come to the aid of the rioters, us;ing their batons on the unionists. 'Scabs' have insulted and spat in Hie far.v, of unionists, while policor,:;n have tinjcd them on with cries of 'dot into the b |d !' The police luvc ri Men down the strikers, and have been quite as brutal in the lawlessness .is Cue hiied I 'toughs.' The 'scabs' have flourished revolvers with impunity, and without police interference. They have flung billies of tea in the faces of women who were quietly standing by. A high police official struck a unionist on the mouth, splitting the man's lip, after his companinn had declared to the unionist: 'Well you all the fight you want.' A v seab' deliberately smashed a window in the Miners' Hall, while the police looked on. "On Tuesday the 'scabs' were given a day off by the company, and accompanied by the police they attacked the Miners' Hall, and broke open the doors—in the presence of the police, who made no attempt whatever to arrest the housebreakers. They stole the keys and other property of the union, apparently with I the assistance of the police. Indeed, the methods pursued were startlingly in line with those employed by the American mine-owners in the Idaho and Colorado mining troubles of recent years, and also at San Diego and St. Lawrence. It has been alleged that one constable was shot by miners from within the hall, while attempting to restrain the "scabs" in the lawless act. If the constable was really endeavoring to restrain the "scabs" outside, he would, of course, have lie#* facing tlieni, and, since he was shot in the stomach, the bullet would have been fired from the crowd of blacklegs. If, as is alleged, the shot really was fired from inside the hall, we would simply point out that the men inside were defending their lives and their property against the most astounding act of organised house-breaking, and the law recognises the right of every man to so defend his life and property. The "scabs" and "toughs" took possession of the miners' hall, with the connivance of the police, and howling mobs of from 20 to 30 are going around with police »"5?o-ts at-' tacking individual strikers and threatening women and children. T::o actingpresident of the union, Mr. Kennedy, had his home besieged, and was kicked at and struck at time and again in the presence of police officers, who never moved in the direction of arresting the assailants .

"This is but a brief resume of the position at Waihi. Within a few days an exhaustive review will be distributed broadcast. "P. C. WEBB, President.. "R. SEMPLE, Organiser. "J. GLOVER, Secretary."