STRIKE LEADERS SENTENCED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 24, 28 January 1910, Page 2

STRIKE LEADERS SENTENCED.

(Continued from page 5.) BOWXING-s DEFENCE. CHARGED UNDER A RUSHEDTHROUGH ACT. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 2 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Bowling contended that on various occasions the employers had admitted the right of the men to strike by paying them all wages due after they had struck. His arrest at Newcastle would have led tG serious results but for his command over thousands of men who came to the railway station to welcome him. It should be remembered that the amended Act under which he was charged had been rushed through Parliament without any time for reflection on the part of the members concerned, and before the people had a chance to be consulted. Even Conservative England recognised the right of the workers to strike. The Taff Vale decision laid this down. Yet he had been arrested for conspiracy and presiding at a meeting at which the men had decided to claim their rights. Had he known that the law rendered him liable to imprisonment for three years or life he could not have done anything else, than what he had done. The evidence did not support the charge that he went to the south coast*, to encourage the men to remain out. The difficulties of the men could not be settled by the Wages Board. He went to the south coast because he knew the battle would be lost by treachery. No matter what the verdict was, he was satisfied the judge had given the case every consideration.