BROKEN HILL STRIKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue XXXIX, 1 November 1892, Page 2

BROKEN HILL STRIKE.

(BY KMCCTIUC Tr.Lr.fillAHl.— copvk'out). Sydnkv, Octob 'i- •-'!). The trial of the members of the Labour Defence Committee, for unlawful conspiracy in connection witii the strike of miners at I'rok'ii Hill, has concluded. Slcul h (secretary of tin; Broken Hill Miners' A--oeialion}, Forgnsson, Polkinghorue. and Hewitt were found guilty, and Huon not: guilty. Bennett and Hebcvle were also found guilty, but the jury ir-eom-mened them to mercy. Addressing a meeting of Miii' r< at Broken Hill a recently app;iii'"d Justice of the Peace urged the workers to get into power, syi/.e the magistracy, and put their own nun on the bench, so that they could get the verdicts they wished ; then when they got Gatling guns and troopers they c.mld if the occasion required, trample down ruthlessly the class whieh opposed them. The trial of the Broken Hill strikers at Deniliqtiin has formal an allabsorbing topic in the city, and intense interest was manifested in the result. Butcher was found not guilty, and discharged. nis Honor, in passing sfinieuc.'. said ho had a painful duty to perforin. It was a terrible thing to .see men like the prisoners before a Court of justice at all. Sleath and Fergusson were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment ; Hewitt, and Bolkiugbome, each to IS months ; IlebciJu. to sine months ; and Bennett, to three months All the accused were ordered hard labour. In iho cases of assault against the unionists, there was one conviction and three acquittals. Unities, far riotous behaviour, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment. The prevailing opinion among the men at Broken Hill was that the mem > bors of the labour defence committee would be acquitted, and the result has caused dismay, October 30. A mass meeting was held in tao Domain to-day, when petitions were signed demanding the release of the members of the Broken Hill Labour Defsnce Committee. A monster meeting is to bo held on Tuesday for the same object. A large mob attacked several free labourers at Broken Hill last night. The police arrrested one of offenders, whom the mob tried to rescue. During the melee four of the police were injured by stones and other missiles. October 31. The Herald supports the verdict in the conspiracy cases. The Telegraph applauds the verdict, which it says is a complete justification of the action of the Government in connection with the arrests. The verdict and sentences aroused very bitter feeling in Unionist circles and the leaders assert that the agitation is of greater magnitude than any that has taken place in the colony. At Broken Ilill on Saturday night seven men were arreste.l for riotous behaviour, and 29 for various offonces ranging froui assaulting the police to druiikeuness.