WAIHI EXILES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 160, 23 November 1912, Page 3

WAIHI EXILES.

AFRAID TO (JO li.-U.'K. deputation to r;u:>:E Auckland, November 20. A deputation of men and women refugees from Waihi was introduced to the I Prime Minister by Mr. Glover, M.P., this j morning. I ■ The first speaker was Mr. Fraser, who i said that at the present time there were • 1800 people—men, women and children—who had been driven out of Waihi. These people had left for a sound and substantial reason, and their representatives were present as a deputation to put their case before the Prime Minister. Their main object in coming forWard was to ask for a commission of enquiry in regard to the recent riots, and to ask for an assurance of a safe return for those who had been terrorised into leaving the town. There were people in Auckland who had been driven out of Waihi who could produce written notices served upon them to get out of Waihi at twelve or twenty-four hours' notice or take the consequences. There were people who were willing to make statements on oath that they had never used violence and yet had themselves been beaten and assaulted in the very presence of the police. Thev- wanted 1 to kno-w the why and thfe wherefore of nil this—why, with the connivance of the police, a reign of terroi' bad been instituted at. .Waihi. .. ; Several members of the deputation also spoke.' , ■ ■ ' ■The Prime Minister, in reply, said that .he had listened attentively to; their grievances and their requests. Their, complaint was that a number of people had broken the law by intimidation and assault; It was the Government's duty to see that the scales of justice were held evenly. If any main broke, the tyW, whether lie be an Federationist, an Arbitratioflist, or of any other' class,he would have to be dealt with without discrimination. . : The deputation's second complaint was that the police had either exceeded or evaded their duty. As they knew, he did not hold the portfolio of Minister of Justice, but he would promise to urge Mr. Herdman to have thi3 enquiry made, and he thought thai his colleague would readily acquiesce. The enquiry would go fully into every point. On the other question, coricerning an assurance of: protection, he could say that they were quite safe in going back to Wailii if they themselves were willing to observe the law. "Now," added the Prime Minister, "I think I have given you both the things-y.ou asked for." . - . ■ ! Mr. Fraser: "Seventy men liaye been individually warned'out of Waihi, and are afraid to go back." ■ Mr. Massey: "I can only repeat what I have said. So long as they attempt no intimidation and commit no offence the police will protect them." Mr. McLennan (vice-president of the Waihi Union): "You say, so long as we do not commit a breach of the peace. Suppose one of our men lost his temper j and called a worker a 'scab,' would the | police protect him from th.e mob?" ;J ; Mr. Massey: "The word 'scab' is a very objectionable one; it is defined legally as a word likely to cause a breach of the peace. If the people of Waihi will drop such tactics I do not think it will be long before the whole trouble there ends in a satisfactory settlement. Go back to Waihi and cease the use of such ] tactics. In any case, as I have said, the law will deal with the offenders." Mr. J. Thorpe: "I was one of sevemtysix served with notice to quit Waihi, ( and warned that if I valued my life never to go back to Waihi. I have pro- ' perty there. What about me ?" Mr. Massey: "So long as you keep within the law I see no reason why you should not go back to Waihi."