THE COAL TROUBLE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15896, 9 May 1917, Page 8

THE COAL TROUBLE.

TVAIKATC MINERS BEFORE THE COURT. (PKESS ASSOCIATION TIXSGRAM.) AUCKLAND, May 8. The charges against 42 coal miners at Huntly, Pukemiro, and Glenmassey, of being parties to a seditious strike, were disposed of at the Police Court this morning. Thirty-three of the men pleaded nine others pleaded not guilty. In suggesting that no penalty should be imposed, on the men who had pleaded guilty, Mr Singer, for tho accused, said in view of the manner in which the previous eases had been dealt with, and in. order that nothing should be done to hinder the full working of uie mines, it was advisablo that the men should be merely convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Mr Meredith, Crown Solicitor, said ho had r.o objection to the proposal. The accused wero in a different position from their leaders, and bod been placed in their present position through following the instigations of the latter. It should be understood, however, that they had rendered themselves equally liable to the full penalty of a fine of £100, or twelve months' imprisonment, and even if no penalty were at present asked for, they remained liable to be sentenced should they give any sign of reverting to their former unlawful attitude. The Magistrate (Mr F. V. Frazer) said he agreed with counsel that cases were upon a different footing from those already dealt with. From tho correspondence put in last week, it certainly appeared that the Federation of Coal Mine Employees was nominally a democracy, but that the "go slow" policy emanated from a somewhat autocratic executive. He thought counsel's suggestion was perfectly permissible and proper, but in caso there should be any misapprehension on tho matter, he wished to mako it clear that he approved it quite apart from tho representations counsel had made. The men had allowed their loyalty to the executive to lead them into conduct which had made them liable to a charge of disloyalty to their country. Such action was short-sight-ed rather than criminal, and ho felt that a suspended sentence would meet the needs of justice bettor than the imposition of an immediate penalty. The accused were ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months. With regard to the men who had pleaded not guilty, Mr Meredith stated that those men had probably done so because they had some explanation to offer. Owing to tho absence of important witnesses at tho oonference in Wellington, it would be have the cases heard at once, and he would suggest that they be adjourned sine die, to be brought on at 48 hours' notice. This coarse was agreed to. the Magistrate remarking: "I sincerely hope that the whole matter is over and done with —till after the 'war, at least." THE TERMS UPON WHICH THE MEN WERE RELEASED.

(SFKciAr TO "rcre JT-KSS.'*) x WELLINGTON, May 8. When questioned by a reporter today about the conditions upon which the men. recently sentenced by Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., in Auckland in the "go slow" prosecutions were released, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Justice, said that the Governor's warrant provided that the sentences imposed were remitted "on, and subject to, the condition that such prisoner executes' 1 a bond to his Majesty the King in the sum of £50, conditioned that such prisoner shall not at any time within twelve calendar months from the execution- of tho bond, be a party to any seditious strike -within the meaning of clause 2 of the regulations mado on tho 16th day of February, 1917, under the said Act, or incite, encourage, or procure any.such strike, or the, continuance thereof, or conspire with any other person to incite, encourage, or procure any such strike or tHo continuance thereof; and oUj and subject to, tho further condition that such prisoner shall at all times duly fulfil and observe the conditions of tho bond so executed by him." The warrant further declared, the Minister said, "That on any breach of tho conditions of the bond so executed by any such prisoner, whether tho bond shall have been put in suit or not, tho remission of his sentence shall bccome void and of non-effect." The regulations quoted by tho Minister of Justice is the one, which affects persons who practice "go 6low" methods. It will b<\ remembered that one of the conditions of the terms of t.hc settlement arrived at by the 'Ministers with tho miners' delegates was that the "go slow" policy was to be abandoned. O'ROURKE AND THE BLACKBALL MEN. (SPBCIAX. rrt "THE miss.") WELLINGTON, May 8. 'Jt appears/now that a demand for the release of O'Rourko to enable him to attend tho conference was mado to the Defence Minister when he was in the South last week, but Sir James Allen replied that he could not interfere. It. is now reported that tho Blackball miners have passed a resolution to the effect that if O'Rourko is no!; released they will "down tools," but there is no confirmation of the report. In any case. O'Rourko is not going to be released, and if tho Blackbail men cr any other men call a strike there will "bo no conference.