THE WAIHI TROUBLE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10711, 16 September 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI TROUBLE

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT PARR MEN GO TO GAOL. ( By Tettgratni—rrtss /nsociatton-t WAIHI, Last Night. In tho course of an address by Mr Parry, president of the Union, to thtv Court vest onlay, the speaker emphasised hi.; '-H'onoiuic .views. Thcro was. ho said. ib:«l principlo that every workcv that belonged to tho wago worker cla.ss should 'never do anything •and his fellow members contended, that ovidenca in thesa cases had been conclusive in their favour from an economic. standpoint. They viewed justice differently to the law a:; laid down in tho Statuto Book. While tho law remained upon that book, it waa tho duty on his Worship to administer tho law in its entirety. Ho understood that in all ages reformers had brought about amendments of tho laws by revolt, and as tho working class miner!; could not turn round, and stultify the police, which their ancestors in all ages had striven for, they were not satisfied from their point, of view with the laws, and his idea of justice. The men had decided unanimously not to find sureties, and as an alternative would go to gaol. Mr Parry went on to say that at thaoutset of the strike they had been told that the local sergeant and police were going to maintain order. Tho sergeant had said that ho was. pleased to hear that, and that n& would not be a party to getting extrapolice there. It had never at any stage' been necessary have police reinforcement; in- Waihi., Mr Eraser: "Do I understand that * that principle means to insult, to -.nnoy and to intimidate the men?" 'Mr Parry said that in tho event of free labourers coming in the members of his organisation would confer with them. That policy would be carried out. '

Mr Frazer said that that was ''not the i>oint. There was nothing wrongin a man speaking to another man in the street, but a crowd Mas not necossary. Mr Parry said they were not responsible for a great crowd. Did" Mr Frazer say that the whole point was whether the liberty of subjects could be interfered with. That was .'the pointof law they had to look to. There was. -no objection to moral suasion to get a man over to their way of thinking,, so long as the conduct was free from, annoyance or insult. If the enginedrivers committed a breach of the. peace he would deal with them in thesamo way. . He was not particular asto who it was. They had a right to talk to any man about his principles, so long as they did not molest or intimidate him. Nobody wished to stop tho strike propaganda. Mr Frazer asked again if they would take time to reconsider their decision. He was not asking much, and if they would understand how little was 'being asked, they would agree to sign tho bond. Mr Parry: "Wo thoroughly understand that." After,some further discussion the matter was closed, and thirteen men were then taken into custody.

Patrick Scholland, for insulting language, was bouncLover to keep the peace; J. Docl, charged with assault-' i:ig an Arbitrationist 3 was fined £2. and required to enter into a bond t<> keep the peace for twelve months. Her was given till Monday to'pay the fine, and find sureties. The charges against W. Collins and Charles Parkin for obscene, language. wer? dismissed. The eleven prisoners, who refused to find sureties, were taken away by the evening train lasV night. About 200 parsons, including a number of women, saw them oft" at the railway station. Loud cheers were given to t!;e prisoners as the train left the station. It is alleged that some of the wive<s of the prisoners stated that if thenhusbands signed the bond they would not let them enter their homes. Some thirty more "foilowing-up charges are down for hearing. Tim defendants have generally intimated that in the event of their being required to find sureties to keep tho peace, they will accept the alternativ3 and go to gaol. . The Union is holding a general public meeting to-night.