THE TIDE TURNED.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14503, 4 November 1912, Page 4

THE TIDE TURNED.

FEDERATION LEADERS

HECKLED.

SCENE "AT WAIKINO

(srccrAL to "the rajess")

WAIHI, November 2. An occurrence, Tvbich plainly doroonr strates that the ti Jo of strike aifairs in regard to workers and aon-workors h»s turned in real earnest, took place at Waikiiio. Workers are now offering their services so freely that the aggressive tactics of the non-workers, wtncli have been in evidonce so long, arc evidently to be met with at least some show of retaliation. Messrs Webb (President Federation of Labour), Semple (organiser) and Kennedy (President pro tern. Miners Union) visited Waikino yesterday afternoon, leaving Wuihi by the 3 p.m. train. Some sort of mooting was held with the striko pickets who are billeted there, and the party, and some thirty pickets, proceeded to the railway station at about 4.40 p.m., being evidently tinder tho impression that a train" would leave earlier than it did. Meantime about fifty free workers, who had just eomo down from tho Waihi mine by the company's brake, paid an impromptu visit to Semple and his colleagues at tho station, and wero joined by thirty others on the way thithor.

Thoy ironically asked Scmplo for an address. This ho refused* to give, stating that he would not address ."things," and would havo nothing to do with them.

Tho workers then proceeded to taunt Semplo with not showing much courage ifow that ho was practically on his own, and it was, they said, all very "well to talk and abuse others when he had three or four hundred men behind him, to say nothing al>o»it women.

Th's sort of recrimination flew thick and fast, and the stationmaster, fearing trouble, ordered the workers off tinplatform. They went, but returned .V tew minutes before the train left, and again heckled Seniple, who soughtrefugo in a railway carriage, where they continued to jibe at him through tho window. Tlio workers gave cheors for the police* and new union, and groans for the Federation. The whole affair lasted only about ten minutes, and Webb and the strike pickets looked on, bu£ said nothing. Kennedy took the numbers of several of the policemen who wero present, and protested that they should havo taken no action. There was no "booing," nor was Scmplo chased, and tho workers showed moro deference to Semplo and his party than they havo received from Federation followers during the past few weeks-' IN DESPERATE STRAITS. ABUSE INSTEaFo'F ARGUMENT. (special to "rnE PR-ess.") WAIHI, If.vemhor 2. .A: mass meeting of strikers was held this morning, about 200 being present, addresses being delivered by Messrs Scrapie antt Webb. The latter said they were going to win, and their one watchword was victory. If they wero beaten it would bo by their own class. The men the company now had in its employ were more of a hindrance than anything else. Tho mine owners had played tneir cards. He advised the men under no consideration to get into conflict with the police, who were armed Ito the teeth, and anxious for n riot. The police were the cause of tho trouble with Mr Semplo yesterday at Wuikino.

Mr Scir.ple, who looked palo and haggard, spoko next. He devoted very tittle time to themain issue, and re-' iterated tua statement that tlu-y were going to win, even if they wore out tor the next six. or twelye months; :>T!i# :: had no intention of admitting' defeat at the present juncture. The,main portion of Mr Scmple's address was simply abuse. He said Jit' was not going to ea'.l out "scab," because the organisation could not itfford to part with him yot, but, he added, "Wo would submit to bo.torn'to pieces or lynched before wo would seek polsvu protection," . •. , Later. The strike leaders spoke about victory in a tigtit alrtnay , lo&i—wnich iv lueu , heart or hearts tney must know is lost. It is quite evident that the federation "bosses" realise' the hopelessnebS ot their i>osition. but they are in desperate straits to'find a way out. Their very presence here shows thut they recognise wmt something must be done to nold tho wavercrs together, and there are i many of the latter class. Tho breach | is widening every day- Abuse ot everybody and everything satisfies tho extreme section ot tnc strikers, and under . this guise thoy- imagine that their leaders are .mitruuing tiiem on to victory. The day ot retribution must conio, sooner or later. ; Coinimmtiug upon tho division list in connection w«vii \iui motion recently belora tho ilouue of Representatives to rejeaso the "\vaihi strike prisoners tho "Daily Telegraph" remarks:—"lt is a good thing lor tho , country, that at the present time- it has a Minister of-'Jus-tice v/iio is alive to the responsibility of his office and dead to the clamour of a class whose only code of law ia mob I law. As long as v/o have such a Minister, some* protection will be given to citizsns and their wives and families against abuse and insult in the public streets and in their own homes by lawless mobs."