THE WAIHI STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10710, 14 September 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE

InOUXD OVER TO KEEP THE PEACE. {by Telegraph—cress Association.) Y»'A f H Last Night. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, the Stipendiary Magistrate, dismisstfvtii.tJic. cases against foar strikers, ".but bound over fourteen of the defendants to keep tlie peace. The Magistrate dism:ssed the charges against Piacun, Gaynor, Harman and Lennon, and convicted Zenovich, Campbell, Dye, Dwyer, Lindwall, H.. Parry, Svkey, Power, feeag, Collins, Sorrenson, Almond and WilJinms. Each w:i« ordered to 'find ipersonal sureties for £lO and another surety for £lO. The Magistrate gave an {interesting address. MAGISTRATE'S ADDRESS. WAIHI, Last Night. ; On the Court resuming this afternoon 'Mr Clendon intimated tlint i"h© «inderrco for the defence was closed, atid he • would ask the Bench to give i judgment before the other cases wore approached. This was agreed to "by the Magistrate, wlio gave his decis- ! jions as ."follows.—"First of all, and i | apart from individualism, T would like j to make some general remarks on this I burning -question. Of course there was a strike, and whether the strike was right or wrong, the drivers or TTnionifjts right or wrong, those questions are mrfhing to do with the Magistrate. A'll that he is concerned about is to ,fiee that neither section, engined rivers or Unionists, commit a

breach of the peace, or do anything that would lend to such. These men arc charged with following an enginedriver in an offensive manner, for t-lirt purpose of provocation. T have to look at all t"he circumstances, and we have ample evidence that the man ! was followed about by crowds,, making use of objectionable words. They were treading so closely on his heels, as to benviihin an' ace of committing an assault, in the manner in which they followed him to the verge of ncrvVtus prostration?" I don't say they were otherwise a riotous or disorderly crowd. The police had dajd that, the crowds were orderly and peaceful to them/ tfiouglV'obviously hostile to Sheard?" . 1 must, also pay my' tribute to .the..general good conduct of t&e> niih&rsj my before ,and the striked" Then: .good„. -The The President, Mr Parry, gave his evidence very straightforwardly. He also said that tlm Union did not entourage these tactics. The men, he said, acted on their thus showing that the officer,s of 'the

I Union bad lost v AH the infcrsdientg ?f the offences are proved, i 3 am Satisfied that an. offensive act lias been Committed, and in my opinion unless something is done, these acts 'will bo repeated. Three men, Harman, Gagnor and Lennox were on a different footing. They showed %hat they wore not on the scene at these disturbances. Regarding the others I was satisfied that the police proved their case, and all that was asked from thepa men was to enter into a peace bond, not to repeat the bad conduct. lam satisfied that there has been a shocking amount of lying, and no one could have sat in court without knowing this." Fourteen, of the defendants were ordered to enter into a personal bond for £lO, and another surety for £lO to keep the peace. The Magistrate J stated that he was willing to accent j the surety of any member of the : Union,,'who was not implicated in the cases, to go bond for his mate.

Other cases were adjourned till tomorrow, at counsel's request. It was agreed to defer tho finding of sureties till the morning, it being urged that the men w;anted time. It was intimated that owing to the policy of the Union not too many were inclined to find sureties. A I)ief mass meeting of miners is being held* to-night. >