THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 156, 19 November 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

WILD FEDERATIONIST CHARGES,

By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Monday. The town is quiet and orderly. The men were all at work this morning. The brakes hitherto in use since the Waihi mine reopened have been abandoned. The exodus ol Federationists still continues, a number leaving this morning by the train. The latest report is that Constable Wade is improving. The worker Robinson, who was shot in the leg, is still confined to the hospital, though the wound is nearly healed. Among the wild and impossible stories told by the Federationsts is one to the effect that the Miners' Union Hall was seized by Arbitrationists and a safe broken up and £24 to £3O extracted. The facts are that the hall has been taken charge of by the only remaining trustee in the district, together with a number of financial members of the Waihi Miners' Union, who are holding the building in trust and are safeguarding the union's property. The safe was opened by the police under the authority of a warrant in the presence of the Commissioner of Police and the union's banker. The last-named took charge oi the cash-box, which contained rather over £ 100, and after counting the money in the presence of others, lie lodged the money in the bank for safe keeping. The story of the seizure of the union's grocery supplies probably arose from the fact that a quantity of provisions eonsigned to the store, and which had been lying at the railway station, had been taken charge of by those members of the Arbitration Union who arc also financial members of the Waihi Miners' Union. The reason for the action was because demurrage had to be paid on the supplies, and by transferring them to the . store considerable money was saved. The allegation that provisions were stolen from the store is absolutely without foundation, the fact being that the trustee, accompanied by others, visited and inspected the store, the object being to see that everything was safe. A LEGAL QUESTION. Wellington, Monday. Mr. O'Regan. legal adviser to the Federation of Labor, has furnished the opinion that the Waihi Miners' Union is a trade union' duly registered, and is the lawful owner of certain land and buildings with contents at Waihi. The buildings have been broken into by certain persons, who continue in possession, and Mr, O'Regan regards the civil position as beyond controversy, even if a forcible entry was effected with the approval of the police. That does not divest the illegal act of its illegality. The union has a civil remedy, which can be enforced in due course. Mr. O'Regan further considers the seizure and publication of private documents factors in determining the question of damages. STATEMENT BY MR. lIERDMAX. POLICE PROTECTION AT 'IIUXTLY.

Wellington, Monday. The 'Minister of Justice, in the course of an interview with a Post reporter, said the people should not forget that gelignite and revolvers were employed by Federationists, whose leaders were parading the country circulating wild baseless minors. Peace was now restored at Waihi. The citizens can walk up and down the streets without fear of insult or assault. The Federationists are now transferring their attention to Iluntly. The protection afforded by the police to the workers at Waihi would also be afforded at Iluntly. Ample police protection would be given, and Federationists will have, to be shown very clearly that they arc not going to be allowed to run the country. Commissioner C'nllen advises the Minister that the police are taking proceedings against both Arbitrationists and Federationists for assault and breaches of the peace during the late trouble. The eases are set down for to-morrow week.

EVERYTIITXfi QUIET. NO CAUSE FOR UNEASINESS. Huntlv, Monday. The place is remarkably quiet, though the opinion is expressed that but for the increased force o£ police in the town there would have been some hostile demonstrations by the Eederationists. At present there is no indication of anything to cause uneasiness. The police force is 42 strong, including 14 from Auckland and 28 from Wellington and Wanganui. Eleven more arrive from Napier in the afternoon. It is almost impossible to obtain accommodation, owing to the inlies from Waihi Many of the police are camped on the floor of the courthouse. Last night, while a. prominent leader of the Waihi Engiiicdrivers' Union was working in ihe engine-room of Ralph's mine, a stone crashed through the window.

THE AEBITRATIONISTS' PROTEST?. MEETING AT THE THAMES. Thames, Last Night. The Rev. Cleary (Vicar of St. George's, Waihi), Mr. Budd (President of the newly formed Miners' Union) of Waihi, and Mr. Foster, speaking as a delegation from the Arbitrationists of Waihi, addressed a large public meeting at the Miners' Union Hall to-night. The object of the delegation was to refute the incorrect statements made by the Federation leaders, supporters and women, as to the condition of affairs at Waihi. They detailed the incidents leading up to the determined action of the workers, proclaiming the rights of British subjects to work without molestation and without police protection, which had suggested to them that they were being treated as prisoners. They merely determined to assert their rights as British subjects, and it was the insults which many men and women had been subjected to for months that caused them to take the measures they did. No insults were offered to women by the Arbitrationists. The streets of Waihi were now free to all. and a much happierstate of things existed than under the system of organised insult and terrorism exercised by the Red Federation. The stories of burning houses, assaults on men and women, and sensational statements made as to maltreatment were emphatically denied by the. speakers. Mr. Ridd aro.ised great enthusiasm by statins: that Waihi was now free of the pernicious anarchistic tenets of the Fed- ! eration, and the workers were determined that it. would remain so. The Fedorationists held an open air meeting in close proximity to the hall.