THE WAIHI STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10718, 12 September 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE

PROCEEDINGS IN COlTi?. THE FOLLOWING-UP TACTICS. lliu Jekgrniih — Pre** A*Mri</hnn. < WAIHI, Last Night.

In the strike cases to-day, the evidence for the prosecution showed the systematic following-up of Enginedriver Sheard, causing him seriour. annoyance. Counsel for the defendants' contended that no breach of the peace had occurred, and that with the exception of the two men named Zenovetch and Kemp, whom it was alleged had behaved threateningly the strikers wore quiet and orderly; also that defendants were not more prominent in the affair than the general crowd. The Magistrate said the question was what was the object of the following-up practises. Counsel said that he supposed this was to show that these men were marked men. In most cases this attitude was adopted in conciliation, in order to" convert them to their side. The Magistrate said: "Is that the way'to conciliate a man—to follow him up, call him a 'scab' and threaten to smash him up?" Proceeding, he said that it seemed marvellous to him how men who were subjected to such treatment had been able to keep their self-control. The further hearin" was adjourned till the morning. The Commissioner of Police has given it out that it. is obvious that the most critical stage of the strike, has been reached, and it must bo c early understood that the police will remain in Waihi till the end of the strike; also that the police will protect every man wishing to work irrespective of whether he is an Arbitrationist or a and further, that the Government was deteimine'd to maintain order.