ALL QUIET AT WAIHI.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 214, 6 September 1912, Page 5

ALL QUIET AT WAIHI.

WOEKERS TTNMOIXSTED. POLICE FORCE STRENGTHENED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, Thursday. There was no demonstration at all this evening when the non-unionists at Waikino left for their homes by public paths at the conclusion of their day's work ou the Waikino end of the Horahora transmission scheme. Tl»ere were during the day nearly twenty constables at Waikino, and the posse of police increased by two from the special batch of ten which came through from Wellington in the evening. The Waikino Arbitrationists assembled at the company's works shortly after half-past four. Meantime at various points of the route these men would take on their homeward journey. Groiips of members of the Waihi Miners' Union assembled. They could be seen in parties of two or three and sometimes more, posted at various points of vantage along the hillside paths which necessarily had to be followed, and which gave a clear view of the assembling of the police and the workers at the company's buildings. Some time after five o'clock police arrangements for the escort were complete, and a party of constables, accompanied by Sergt. Wohlmann, Detective Cooney and Sergeant Cowan, marched out with the men to their homes. The route followed was not that which has been taken of late along the private track through the company's property, but was by public paths. Throughout the parties of strikers were passed at different positions of the journey, but at no stage was there any attempt either to follow or to offer audible criticism of any kind. The police force, some fifteen etrong, made an imposing array, and the procession was watched with interest from various cottage windows and doors on the way. There was something pathetic in the spectacle of waiting wives receiving their husbands at gates and doors, the safe passage to which could be assured only by a display of legal authority. Mr. McLennan, vice-president of the Waihi Union, and other members to the number of about a dozen, went down in the afternoon train to Waikino, presumably to be present at knocking off time for the Arbitrationists with others already at Waikino. There were probably about forty spectators of the evening escort. It lias been indicated that a party of ten constables came through from Wellington and arrived at Waihi this evening. There are now about forty constables posted at Waikino and Waihi. With regard to proposed summonses to be issued against a number of strikers for following and beha.ving objectionably to enginedrivers on the street, several unionists have stoutly declared their ignorance of any insulting language being used and of any official sanction for unseemly behaviour towards enginedrivers. Many of the unionists obviously do not take part in these following up displays, and disapprove of them- They suggest in extenuation of their comrades' actions that they are inspired more by a spirit of mischief than anything else. At the same time it is clear that the enginedrivers rlo not see the humour of the attention they are receiving, and claim that it lias become so aggravating as to amount to what may reasonably be termed molesting. They declare also that bad language is towards them, and candidly admit unwillingness to trust themselves alone to the mercy of the strikers on the streets. The enginedrivers to-day received a reply from the Prime Minister to the urgent telegram of yesterday asking for further protection. Mr Massey's message stated that the appeal would receive the immediate attention of the Government.