WAIHI STRIKERS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10715, 21 September 1912, Page 5

WAIHI STRIKERS

A FURTHER BATCH GO TO GAOL STRONG REMARKS BY MAGISJKA'iE. AMOUNT OF SURETIES INCREASE u. (By Telegraph—l'rcss Associativa.) WAllil, Last Night. ! TJio Magistrate's Court resumed this morning, beioro Mr i<. V. Eraser, S.M. The tweniy-l'our men who were required to lind sureties and sign bonds to keep the peace for twelve months, and who, at, their own request wero given till this morning to iind the sureties, each replied in turn that they had decided not to iind the sureties, but to accept the alternative and go to gaol. THE MAGISTRATE SURPRISED. The Magistrate said that to some extent the men had taken him by surprise in adopting this attitude. Yes--1 terday all had promised to iind surei ties. It did not "seem an heroic tiling to him that after making up their minds to do the right thing they allowed somebody not competent te'give advice on the matter to cause them to change their minds. It did not seem to him that they possessed much strength of mind. It must be a "glorious" band of heroes who wanted to uphold the "glorious", principles to follow up, annoy, and intimidate people, and oven in -some- instances frighten women into a state of illness and create public disorder. It was a "glorious" principle for which they wero fighting. NO INTENTION TO STOP PICKETING. The Magistrate went on to say that there was no intention in the wide world to stop picketing. They had Jiad the assurance of Inspector Wright /that the police would not interfere in any attmept by the strikers at legitimate picketing, or efforts at converting the free labourers. It appeared there was no principle involved beyond the "glorious" principle of the right to intimidate and annoy those weaker than themselves, when they were in such numbers as to make it safe for themselves. If that constituted a hero, he was very much wrong in his estimate of that the words meant, A STRIKER EXPLAINS.

Harman, one of those called upon to find sureties, asked permission to speak. The Magistrate said ho would ihear ■him. Harman explained that he had reviewed the situation seriously, and had come to the conclusion that it would be folly to enter into a bond, on account of the aggressive attitude of the police against their organisation. If they bowed to or smiled at a policeman, or made any chance remark re his personal beauty, a summons followed, and their bonds were forfeited. His Worship said that was "utter rot"—untrue, and absolute nonsense. It was just an attempt to justify the ! attitude taken. Ho explained again that there would be no curtailment to the men who found sureties in the performance of their duties as pickets; but the principle of disorder and law- i lessness would not be permitted. He would ask whether there was a hero i present who would change his mind. COMMISSIONER CULLEN FTRM. Mr Cullen, Commissioner of Police, in the course of a few remarks, made it plain that the police would at all costs maintain law and order. They would protect anyone who wanted to work, no matter who it was. free labourer or Federationist. The police Wt'illld remain, here as long as they were wanted. There were rsorc ready to came at aiiy iv.'-nie.'it. L was only ?.' matter of sending a telegram. Ho wanted the men to clearly understand the"position. ANOTHFP, BATCH OF. CHARGES. The final batch of charges in connection with the of free labourers was preferi'Ad again l ?! Walter Collins, William Collins, Geo. Bence, W. Perry and Mattio Peacum. The defendants pleaded not trinity. In opening the prosecution Inspector Mays said that it was regrettable that all the warnings and the Court proceedings had not so far had the desired effect on the strikers, and some of those now before the Court had been charged early in the week, hut had escaped, with the exception of Peacum. The Magistrate, in making an order to find sureties to keep the peace, increased the amount of the surety to £SO and another of £SO. These men elected to go to gaol. FORTY-FIVE IN GAOfc. WAIHI. Last Night. The number going to gaol to-day is twenty-nine, making a total since, the proceedings were instituted of forty-five. Altogether there were fifty-one bound over, six of whom found sureties. i During the Court proceedings to."tlav a number of women paraded outside the Courthouse, bearing placards with the inscription. "Don't Tie traitors to your class!" The twenty-nine prisoners committed to-day were taken away from the station in two brakes, driven by policemen, to the steamer at Paeroa. Thev will arrive at Auckland at daylight t'o-morrow. An immense crowd saw them off amid much cheering for the prisoners and hooting for the police and the law. : ~

' QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. MR HERDMAnITeMAINS FIRM. WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr J. T. Payne (Grey Lynne) asked the Minister of Justice if he would take steps to release the men imprisoned in connection with the Waihi strike. If they were not dealt with reasonably, said Mr Payne, a great deal of trouble would ensue. The. men had not assaulted anyone, and had done nothing unreasonable. He believed that if the men were released there would be no further trouble. The Hon A. L. Herdman said he did not propose to recommend to the Government that it should interfere with the proper administration of justice. (Hear! hear!) The men to whom Mr Payne had referred tad