THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 164, 28 November 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

EVIDENCE OF THE POLICE. By Telegraph-Press Association. Waihi, Wednesday. On the resumption of the Court 'tips morning, \\ m . J. Swears and Thos. Tobin were charged with threatening behaviour in the Main street on Noveii"ber SI. There was no appearance of Tobin.

Senior-Sergeant -McKinnon deposed that he heard the word -scab" used by Tobin, and Swears began a fight, which witness stopped. The conduct of the strikers was a continual howl; epithets such as "scab/' etc., were commonly used every day in the public street. The police were unable to copy with the conduct. The men were summoned, but preferred gaol rather than to observe the law. The women were just as bad. They did 'not confine themselves to insulting language. They also threw •stones and rotten eggs. 'Witness had a narrow escape from being struck on the head by a stone as big as his fist in the main street. He remonstrated on several occasions with the strikers, and the women's reply was: "Take your dirty scoundrels off the street!" (meaning the police). Witness said that Delaney and 'his wife received shocking treatment when they had not given the slightest provocation. The sergeant said he had warned the strikers continually. They took no heed. The police came in for'abuse. They were alluded to as "Massey's protector!," "pimps," etc. When remonstrated with, the strikers said they did not care a hang about the law." As a sample of the language, he had heard a single young woman say to the workers, "You "dirtv. rotten, maggoty, cancerous scabs." ' ' Sergeant Millar said that in Seddou street, on the morning of Xovember 11, he saw Conrick, a striker, running, with Delaney and others following. He saw Conrick struck and fall on his knees. He pushed the crowd back and got Conrick into the stables near by. Conrick thanked him. The statement in the Maoriland Worker that Conrick was kicked in the ribs was untrue. The womenfolk frequently used offensive terms in addressing the workers, and used hatpins and sticks. When witness appealed to Mr. Eraser, the Fcderationist, about the women's conduct, Mr. Fraser replied that the police should arrest them.

This concluded the evidence in the charge against Dclaney.

Counsel then commenced their addresses.

A FEDERATION MANIFESTO.

SOME WILD TALK

Wellington, Wednesday

The Federation of Labor has issued a manifesto, asking that the situation be viewed calmly and dispassionately. It claims that the cause of the exodus* of strikers from Waihi was collusion between the police and the so-called Arbitrationists to break the strike, and a hundred witnesses were prepared to swear in court that the police aided and abetted lawless acts. Inspector Cullen's administration is attacked, and the Government's policy is accused of being responsible for riot and outrage. The Government and not the Federation should he on trial. An enquiry is demanded by the. Federation, which objects i to the Minister waiving the demand aside, on the ground that it is not worth while. The Federation will stake its all on the result. The removal of the coroner is demanded, on the ground that ne is an anti-Federationist and foe of the Miners' Union. Appeal is made for subscriptions in aid of Evans' widow and children, towards which the Federation has voted £101). The levy on federated unions is reduced to » per cent, of the weekly earnings to solidify the union force. A conference is to be convened next January.