THE WAIHI PRISONERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10712, 6 November 1912, Page 4

THE WAIHI PRISONERS.

Ihe attitude of tlio Government- in regard to the Waihi_ strike prisoners has been adversely criticised in certain quarters, but the press generally approve of thd steps taken to uphold the law. In a leading article on the question the Waihi Daily Telegraph has the following :—"U is a good thing for the country that at the present time. it ;haa a Minister of Justice who is alive: to the responsibility of his office and dead to the clamour of a class whose only codo of law iB mob law. As loi)g as we have such a Minister some protection will -be given to citizens and their - wives - and families agaiixst abuse, .and iasnlt' in the -pub-"" lie streets and in their own homes mobs... Of the'twenty honourable: gentlemen of the House • wJxO supported , the petition for the release of th» prisoners the less, said the better. They are hardly men for electorates to be proud of. But we are satisfied that if any of the twenty suffered half the insults that have been hurled at Waihi residents whose characters are as high as theirs, they woulfl bo just as eager as others to have the otl'enders bound, over, gaol or Uo gaol. After the wholesome Leating of Thursday we trust that the will arrive at the conclusion that after all respect for the law is a necessary tiling in a civilised country, and that the only way to ensure respect for the law is to uphold and defend it when it is 6couted and scorned. In the action lie has taken to maintain a standard of decency in the l oir.itry the Minister is having the approval of all , who have any respect for the law, and he ca'n afford to. treat, with' contempt the few who oppose him.'-