THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1913 A BASE FABRICATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 5 November 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1913 A BASE FABRICATION.

It is not a matter for surprise that the Red Federation,ists of Wellington should view with alarm the appearance upon the scene of"flloU3.ted constables who are. determined t<J jprevent interference with . those who are prepared to work! It As certainly surprising to find newspapers and newspaper correspondents in tlio country districts supporting the Federationists by circulating fake reports, and by making damaging statements aga.iij^. thostj , \yho .fa &ndeavounng to protect ill© public against the outrages of &U infuriated tool) . We lia ve Wore lis a a Tve write, a'special telegram despatched from Mast-erton on Saturday last by ft correspondent whose identity i e not far to seek. This telegram was sent to Wellington, Ohristchurch and other cities of the Dominion. Fortunately the Wellington newspaper to which it \?ft3 addressed refuged to publish the whole of the mendacious falsehoods. The other city papers, however, apparently not knowing the ""unreliable source from which the telegram emanated, published it under "scare" headings. Here is the precious packet to which Ave refer:— "The notion of employing special constables in connection _ with the strike in Wellington is being roundly condemned among moderate people. .The 'meddling' as it is called of the Farmers' Union in. canvassing for special, constables and free labourers in Wairarapa, is also considered a mistake, and can only result in irritating the men. It is freely stated thai the authorities have blundered badly over the whole business. ( The level-headed 1 farmers and business men condemn the employment ofj

special constables, and hold tho opinion that the authorities could have stoppi-d all tho trouble by acting promptly. To-day several farmers and others who intended going to Wellington, alter giving the matter consideration, decided that the interference of special constables was only likely to prolong the trouble, and it was not their place to go. About forty men, farmers' .sons and men employed by stock firms, etc., left for special duty jit Wellington this morning, _ amid jeers ol* the unionists and olliers on the station. The Wairarapa Times, tho leading Reform journal of Wairarapa, condemns the employment of special constables, who' would only bo a best and likely to provoke the strikers to riot. The paper says the Government has done-, an unwise thing in employing special constables, an action which is almost entirely responsible for such disturbances as have already occurred. It is feared that farmers will suiter later on for the present action they are taking in providing men and horses for duty at Wellington, as the shearers, it is stated, will refuse to shear the sheep of such farmers. Many farmers refuse to have anything to do with the movement organised by tho Farmers' Union in connection with the providing of men and horses. Already the local unionists are ; retaliating;' The proprietor of a boarding-house, tempted, perhaps, by the offer of ten shillings a day and keep, this morning joined the special constables, and immediately several of the boarders packed up. It is also proposed to boycott the local business establishments which are known to hold views favourable to the Government and the Farmers'TJnion in the special constable scheme. TKe workers, for the most part, condemn the strike, but intend to boycott in retaliation in connection with the special constable movement."

We have no hesitation in declaring the above contribution to be an outrageous libel upon the people of this district. Almost from beginning to end it is a tissue of falsehoods. We make bold to say that the action of employing special constables has "not" been condemned by moderate people. On the contrary, it has been heartily applauded. To assert that the authorities have blundered, and that "the level-headed farmers and business men condemn the employment of special constables," . is to grossly arid deliberately distort the facts. So far as fanners refusing to proiceed to Wellington is concerned, it is known that one man refused, but he was a member of tho Shearers' Union; : \ye can: pass over: the statement, that,theWairarapa Tiinf>s is the leading Reform. journal of the witli the one'remaxlv that if this be the case tlio outlook' for Heform is gldomy indeed. The people of the district are profoundly indignant that a paper pretending to support the Reform party should* act in such a traitorous manner as to circulate unwarranted statements concerning the farmers of the district and their sons. The assertion that the farmers are going to be made to suffer for having provided men and horses, and that "it is also proposed to boycott local business establishments which aro known to hold views favourable to the Government and the Farmers' 5 Union in tho special constables scheme," is a cruel and unprovoked libel upon tho working men of this town, and a gross insult to farmers and tradespeople. Wo are* sorry, indeed, that it should bo necessary to protect this community against the violent outbursts of literary irresponsible^; but the fair name and fame of the Wairarapa. demands that we should expose the shamelessness of those who would damage our reputation in-the eyes of the outside world.