FALSE STATEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 165, 29 November 1912, Page 4

FALSE STATEMENTS.

The evidence given by Mr. Kennedy, acting president of the Miners' Union at Waihi, and a .prominent "Red Fed." before the Court at Waihi on Tuesday, furnishes proof—if any proof were needed—of the utter unreliability of the statements circulated by that anarchical body, and an example of its extraordinary methods. From street corners and per Press and pamphlet, the "heroes" who made such a hurried exit from the town they had for months tyrannised, an exit expedited by the determined attitude of their erstivhile victims, have been uttering wild and violent fulminations against the police, the Government, and the Arbitrationiats. We have before us a circular signed by P. Fraser, member of the executive of the Federation of Labor, and W. McLennan, vice-president of the Waihi Workers' Union, headed "The Waihi Truth!" It is a fair sample of. the hysterical nonsense and mendacity indulged in by this irresponsible and irrepressible organisation. Here are a few extracts:—

The riots of Monday and Tuesday, November 11 and 12, were not only al; lowed by Commissioner Cullen and his satellites, but we have sworn evidence to prove that the Commissioner himself, his sergeants and his police, -actually set out the plan of the campaign of bullydorn; we can ptove before any impartial jury that Cullen himself acted like a mad bully; that he split the mouth of a hunted and brutally ill-treated man so that it had to be stitched up hy a doctor; that he jibed and jeered this man on his wrestling prowess and told Skinner to come off his horse and settle him; that he grabbed the man in a narrow lane, bore him to his knees, and threw him on his back; that he afterwards endeavored to bully him into an apology. Wo can prove that the police urged the scabs to insult isolated strikers, and in many cases acted like lunatics let loose from Bedlam. We can prove that the police used the most* vile and threatening language to men and women. We can prove that the wives of working men were subjected to the vilest forms of insult by scabs and policemen; We can prove that the police stood by while a score of scabs kicked and brutally illtreated strikers. There is no need for exaggeration. The recital of facts disclosed by the sworn evidence are sufficient to impel the working class of the country to demand a complete and thorough investigation into the criminal actions of the police at Waihi. Theft, murder, arson, insults to women, have been perpetrated with immunity.

At the bottom of the circular appear these words: '"What are you going to say to this?" Their own satellite, Kennedy, has stated'on oath that he was not in a position to produce any evidence justifying a public enquiry or a Royal Commission, nor was he prepared to make any direct charge against either the police or the Arbitrationists. He testified that there was not a single case of outrage or attempted outrage on women, nor was there evidence of children being hurt. But he "had a strong feeling against the police ever since the police came to Waihi and prevented the Federationists having all their own way with the Arbitrationists." "Which is to say, the police, in his opinion, would have been a lot of good fellows, discharging their duty nobly, had they continued to allow the "Red Feds." to molest and insult the free workers, to pelt their houses with prehistoric eggs, jeer at their women folk, and indulge in snch- [ like gentle treatment! Really, the public are getting tired of the "Red Feds.," and the Press of the country would, we believe, be rendering the public a real service if it refrained from giving further publicity to their doings. As it is. the Federation and its bright leaders are being given the best form of advertisement and waxing fat thereon, occupying a position in the eyes of the public totally disproportionate to their ability, strength and importance. Remove the limelight, and the '•'Red Feds." would be unable to carry on for long. The Press Association might give the lead in this desirable direction by instructing its agents to telegraph only real news about this weird and wonderful organisation. This should average not more than two lines a week.