WAIHI STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10719, 13 September 1912, Page 5

WAIHI STRIKE

CASES BEFORE THE COURT 11.: PORTA XT EVIDENCE. <By 1 tleyiuph—i. itna Association.) J WAiHI, Last Night, i In tho strike cases to-day ; under cross-examination, Mi' Parry, President of the Miners' Union, said he con- - tended that a man had the right to speak to any man on the pubi»c footpath. Directions given to pickets were of a various character. Ho had not mado any statement to tho effect that in other countries, the enginedrivers for their action would be "tarred and feathered." Ifc would bo hard to take stops to prevent a repetition of such occurrences as the Haydfen and Sheard incidents, or those at Wnikino. In the event of members congregating in a large crowd, and arguing the point with the police or anybody else, ho would call upon them to disband. He had never heard whistles blown to collect a crowd of J strikers together. Pickets had been appointed to d'o certain duties, and it I W'as necessary in tho case of strikes to have'pickets and scouts to get in- , formation, which was u«ual and necessary, for the successful conduct of o strike. He understood that the

'mounted pickets owned their own' ! horses. i On September or u] the Strike Committee visited Waikino, and there were a number of others from Waihi j there at the same time, no doubt by accident. Nothing was done by pre--1 arrangement in the way of lining out on Fraser's Track. The. Magistrate said that the question was whether this method: of converting the engine drivers or free labourers was likely to provoke a breach of the -peace. It was not a question of whose principles were right. Re-examined. witness said that their policy was 1 to conciliate and not to intimidate. Mr Frazer asked if witness or hip committee would approve of the engine drivers or others following with a running fire of remarks, and calling a "smelly" and: various other expressions, and holding their noses as he passed along. '/Witness sjaid th atch at kind of thing was not approvedl of,'but it was hard to prevent people; from putting their, hands to' their nose. ' "Witness saitfhe could not recall whether the commit- , tee had dealt with ajiy of the members for such behaviour as #"as indicated by His Worship. The Magistrate asked if it would not be better to arrange with one . or two of their members to meet the men they wished to convert, instead of large crowds following them round. A man who was frightened, such as in the case of Sheard, wouid' hardly be a fit subject to argue with, .ftnd try to convert. It would be advisable perhaps to discourage strikers as a body from following up these tactics. Witness said it could be done, . but there were varioug reasons of which the Bench would not be aware, for special tactics on the part of strik* ers, . There were reasons also why it wag not discreet to go to the place of certain, persons, where traps may be laid. It had been done in all parts of the world, and' they had to guard against that sort of thing.. Mr Frazer then briefly summed up the evidence of witness, in order to endeavour to arrive at pome kind of interpretation of the connection of the "following up" system, with the education and conversion of enginedrivers and others.

Charles Harman, defendant, said lie did not know Slveard. He would absolutely deny being present, at the demonstration on the afternoon of 4th instant. He was engaged on that afternoon, at an Economic Class meeting. Cross-examined, witness said that a large number of the men attended the class. He was in the crowd that followed the two men at Waikino. He did not use insulting language. The only expression he used, and thereason why Sergeant Wohlmnn checked him was that he said "Look tW." indicating a man standing near, "I am | surprised that lie should choose a scab l as a . woman friend." Witness, proceeding, said it was then that SerI eeant Wohlman checked him. Asked by Mr Frazier he did not think the expression "scab" was an insulting one, witness said lie did not. It wa s a torm ' asu . those who were opposed to the inI terests of their organisation, bu 1 —'t: not used in malice. In a fuither reply to the Bench, witness said that if the term was recognised as an insulting expression he would be careful about- the use of it m .future. 1 i n the case of one defendant, ai. Peacun, the Bench held that the evidence was not of a substantial character, and would dismiss the case. Up to the evening's adjournment fourteen cases- had been dealt with, and in each of these cases the evidence 1 adduced by the defence goes to show that the individuals took no active , part in the demonstration against-the enginedriver Sheard. The defendants I audi their witnesses swore that they nere present merely out of curiosity

for tlie most part. Defendants stated; that they had never seen Sheard till his appearance in the Courthouse. They were not among the crowd for the purpose of annoying Sheard or anybody else. They were out for a little exercise, and did not know who the crowd was following, or what they were doing. The proceedings will be resumed to-morrow. BRIGHTER PROSPECTS. OF MINES RE-OPENING. WAIHI. Last Night, The formation of a Union at Waikino, to be registered under the Arbitration Act, is a significant factor in the re-opening of the Waihi mines, and restarting milling operations. It is all the more gratifying to those anxious to resume, work to learn that over fifty men have joined and application for registration has been forwarded.