THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 161, 25 November 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

NEW UNION'S MANIFESTO.

SOME HOT WORDS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Last Night. The following is a condensed summary of the manifesto just issued by the officials of the new umioi:—

"The strike which began on May 13 with a farce, continued its burlesque for weary months, and reached.its stage of tragedy on November 12. Never in industrial history have such despicable methods been used, and these, too, to fight an unclean eause, for the whole regrettable affair has been merely a protest against the desire of a section of men. who wished to work under arbitration. ,

These men, the engine-drivers, tried federation labor, and found it incapable, unbalanced and hysterical. They found it fighting political and religious fights, and proved tlut its system was unsound and its tenets unreliable. They cut adrift and registered under Arbitration. Hence came the abused strike to coerce, these men back, and an ultimntum to the companies that they must not employ these men. No conditions of wage were at issue, but merely a point of tyranny by the domineering so-called Federation, who themselves admit that Waihi provided the highest wages and best conditions in the whole world. Scores of men made from £4 to £6 per week. .Some contractors drew £IOO per month. But 'the die was cast. The leaders saw iluir error, and failed to retreat manfully, and the strike dragged on wearily, for weeks.

"Workers' houses were surrounded by strikers, their wives and even their children hurling filthy insults, yelling and hooting and behaving like wild animals. For weeks reckless boycotting of tradespeople, intimidating of sympathisers, and the wildest system of lies were perpetrated. Many cases of violence occurred, but the presence of police, especially picked for tact, discretion and good conduct, kept the irresponsible mobs somewhat in check. At last gelignite was used, a plug with a lighted fuse being deliberately thrown at a group of arbitrationists, whose escape from the resulting explosion was nothing short of marvellous.

"On Monday, November 11, the insulting aggressors drew upon themselves an attack by their victims, but the loathsome language to the workers, their wives and their children continued, and open threats of violence to life and property were indiscriminately hurled at them. On Tuesday, the 12th inst., a gang of workmen, on passing the Miners' Union Hall, wore greeted with base and wholly uncalled-for insults, followed by a pistol shot. The infuriated men rushed the hall, and more shots greeted them, luckily badly aimed. Only two'shots found their marks; an Arbitrationist fell, and a policeman received a bullet in the abdomen. Before falling, the constable struck down his attempted murderer with his baton, and, the would-be assassin died in the hospital. The crackling of pistol shots released the restraint of the workers, who rushed at the strikers, and in a brief time revenged the hideous nightmare to which they and their families had for six months been treated. The police strove to restrain the workers, but were only partially successful, flan to man had to account for many a long score of bullying of women, children and isolated men. Defeat was sudden, * dramatic and complete. The tyranny of months was concluded in ft few hours. The national flag was flown, and women, hidden for months behind closed doors, came forth into th« streets without fear of, molestation.

"Now began, perhaps, the foulest play of the whole affair, viz., the issuing of 'manifestoes' and statements so grossly untrue as to be ludicrous, if not so damnable. Instead of taking, their beating like men, every possible lie has beeri concocted about the workers, the police and the citizens, even the matron of the hospital (who sat up all night with Evans) being grossly maligned. Since the rage caused by the shooting subsided not an angry word has been spoken, not a blow has been struck. Strikers are now leaving by dozens (at Parry's bidding) , and declare that they are -driven forth, that murder, persecution, pillage and arson arc rife. As ( a matter of fact, not a single instance of retribution by Arbitrationists has been recorded. Those men and women whose mouths were foulest and their threats thedowest may walk the streets of Waihi as they would those of Auckland. Truly the Waihi strike will be remembered as the most absurd on record. It's weapons were the foulest and the mpst ( cowardly (for women and even childreni.were put to the front). On the other hand, the neutral citizens, poilce, engine-drivers and Arbitrationists have come out cleanhanded and unstained, and no man can point at them tho finger of reproa«h."

AN ENQUIRY REFUSED.

Waihi, Saturday.

In reference to the reply of the Minister of Justice to the request fqr an enquiry into the disturbances at Waihi, Mr. J. Newth, Mayor -of - Warnij has wired to the Minister as follows: "Congratuate you on your decision in reference to the Federationists' request for an enquiry into the Waihi affairs. I feel assured that -BUch an enquiry is unnecessary, as tlie statements made in urging it were outrageous misrepresentations, and that the issues referred to will be settled in the Court of Justice. I feel convinced that these views are endorsed by »very impartial person in Waihi." j Constable Wade is improving, i