THE GAOLED STRIKERS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10718, 1 November 1912, Page 5

THE GAOLED STRIKERS

PETniOrN r BEFORE THE HOUSE. A WARM DISCUSSION. (Bv - i ms Atn^tatioti.J WELLINGTON, Last Night. A dicussion arose in the House of Representatives this afternoon on tho Petitions Committee's report on » petition from Timaru, praying that the strikers in the Auckland Gaoi should be released. Several members contended tint the law had been vindicated, and tho men should be released. During a speech by Mr Robertson, member for Otiki, Mr Harris (Waitemata) interjected that the law must be upheld. Mr Payne interjected that the member for Waitcmata (Mr Harris) had hidden from the police for two days at Napier.

The Speaker ordered the withdrawal of the words, which w,as done. Mr Harris explained that he had come out here beforo the mast, and had deserted Lis ship, but had never hidden from or been sought by the police.

J The Hon A. L. Herdman, replying to arguments, said that there was not one member who would protest against J the enforcement of the law, if they ; knew the jvholo.of tho circumstances. ■ He read a letter dated September sth, and signed by thirty-eight Waihi eiti- } zens. The letter stated that an in- ' tolerable condition of industrial war- j faro had developed in Waihi, and tliey called on the Government to per- j form its duty «ind protect them and their property. They considered that' j matters had got to the condition they I !.. were in through the inability of the j Government to quash the situation. J Tho Minister gaid that so long as he was Minister for Justice, la.w and order would be enforced. He would make no distinction between the Waihi strikers and anyone else. Tt bad been suggested that the Government had sent a special Magistrate to Waihi to try the men. That was absolutely incorrect. The Magistrate had had three courses open to him when the men came before him, viz.,i imprisonment, i fine, or t-o be ordered to keep the j peace. H© had inflicted the lightest I possible penalty. The Minister em- [ phasised the point that the men were I not confined in gaol by the Govern- | ment, but by their own wills. (Cries of "No! Not") The Minister said anyone could sign a -bond or v. get a friend to sign it and get his mease to-morrow. The men were classed as second-class delinquents, ' tiong- for. that class were enforced;'; The men'were not denied anything the !

regulations allowed. Ho had given instruction that the men could do any work in prison there was, if they chose to.

The House divided on an amendment to refer the petition back to tho Committee, the voting being: For, 21; against, 41. Mr Witty then that the report be referred to the Government for consideration.

The Hon W. F. Massey said the Government had had a very unpleasant duty to perform, and having performed it, wero satisfied to leave it at that. Mr Witty' h amendment was lost hy 10 votes to 22, and the. report which had "o recommendation to make, was received.