THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1544, 13 September 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

—;—4 ■" ■ ' COURT PROCEEDINGS. METHODS OF CONVERSION, PICKETS AND SCOUTS. SOME INTERESTING EVIDENCE(By Telegraph—P«n Association.) Walhi, September 12. Iα tho strike cases to-day, under cros* ■' examination, W. B. Parry, president of tl'.o Miners' Union, said ho contended that a man had a right to speak to any ninn on a public footpath. The directions given to tho pickets wcro of a various character. He had not made any statement to tho effect , that in another country tho engine-drivers, for (heir action, would lx> tarred and feathered. It would bo. bard to. take steps to prevent: \ a rendition ot such occurrences as the Haydcn and Shoard incidents or those at Waikino. In tho event of member* congregating' in a , largo 'crowd nrguinff" % the point with the police, or anybody else; ho would call upon them to disband. Ho had never /hoard whistle*.". blown to collect a crowd of strikers together. Pickets had been appointed to do certain duties. It.was nccessnry incases of strikes to liavo pickets end 6couts to get information. It was usual and necessary for the successful conduct..'" of a strike. Ho understood that mounted pickets owned thoir horses. On ScpUm- ; ber 2 tho Strike Committee visited Wai- • kino, and there wore a number of other Wailii men there at Hie same time, no doubt by accident. Nothing >was done •■■ by pro-arrangement in tho way of lining out on Eraser's, Track. Tho Magistrate 6aid that tho question. ■. was whether the method of converting tho engine-drivers or free labourers was likely to provoko a breach of the peace.... It was not a question of whose principles ' were right. On being re-examined, witnesssaid their policy ujas" to conciliate, and -not' to ■ in- , '. timidale. Mr, Fcazor asked if witness or his committee would approve of engine-drivers or others followiug with a running fire 'of remarks, and calling a man., "scab," "smelly," and. various, other' ■.' holding tlieir noses as ho passed along. Witness said that that kind of thing was not approved of, but it was hard to prevent people putting their hands to their nose. Witness.said lie could, not recall whothor .tlio..committee, tiail. dealt with any of the members' for transgressions or such behaviour as was indicated by his Worship. . '. . The'magistrate asked if it would not'be '"'' better to arrange with, one'or two "'of "'. their members to ineef,, the., men jhoy wished to convert instead.of large crowds ■ following them round. A man who was frightened, such as in the case of Sheard, would hardly bo a fit subject to argue with, and try to convert. . It would' be:, • ' advisable perhaps to discourage striker* as r. body from following up tactics. Witness said it could be done, but there were various reasons of which tho Bench would not bo nwaro for special tactics on tho part of strikers. There wcro rea- .. sons"also why it was not'discreet to go""' to a place. Traps may bo laid. It had been done in all parts of the world, and they had to guard against that sort of .'". j; thing. - : •■"'.." ;,; ., '.'!.' .• '. '■ ■ Mr. Frazer then briefly summed...up , the. , cvidenco of witness in order to endeavour to arrive at some kind of interpretation of the connection of following up wilh the education and conversion of. enginedrivers' and others. Charles Harnian, defendant, said he did riot know Sheard. He would absolutely deny lining present at tlicdomouslratian .', on the , afternoon of the 4th insly He , was crigagpß . on. that . afteruoon'■'. til' VA * .'economic class meeting. ' witness said'a* ,!larg«i-' '• number of men attended (ho class. 1I«. was in the crowd that followed two men ■ ' at Waikino. He did not use insulting., , , language. The only expression ho used, ' and the reason why Sergeant Wohlman checked him, was that ho said:- "Look':'? , there," indicating,; n man .«(anding,,nenr, "I am surprised that he should choose ,: a 'scab' as a bosom' friend." Witness, proceeding, said it was then that Sergeant' Wohlman checked him. ' . ■ ; ' Asked by Mr. l?raz©r if ho did not think tho expression, "scab" was an insulting one, witness., said ho. did not. It was. a ■ i term used against thoso who were .op- :■ posed to' the interests of their organisation, but.wife not:used .in.malice, '■■ .■'■•' "'ln furtherji'gply to. , the Bench, witness ~ said that if the recognised as an insulting expression, ho would bo care-' .;■ ful; about the uso of it in future. ■ ■'■'<' In tho case of one defendant, M. Piacun, '■• the Bench held that the., evidence was •., not of a 'substantial-character, , .'and , lie' , ■ would dismiss tho case. - ■■ . Up to tlio "■ evening's adjournment, 'ij'•.■■ v cases had been.;'dealt-with, and in each of tlicfo cases' tlio evidence adduced by' the defence goes to show fliat the individuals took no active , 'part in the demonstration against tho engine-driver"Sh6ard.' . The defendants' and their .witnesses'swore, that they were present merely out of curiosity. Tor the most part, defendants stated that they- had never-Seen .Sheard' . till his appearance in tlio courthouse. They wcro not ainoiig tho crowd for the. purpose of annoying Shenhl or 'anybody '•; else. . They were out for a little exercise, , '•■ and did,not know who tlio .crowd' ' following or what they tfcroTdoing; : '.' .'.". The proceedings ;be - resurocjl tomorrow. ... ■ . ... '■'•-." '. _ -REGISTERED .UNIONv'-:. , ..-:'' '"'"' a'significant-factor' -' :: -''' : - ,-•■•••■; ' Waihij-; September , 12."".t The formation of a union at",Wai.kim),"",': to bo registered under an award of o t'lie,J l ' N Arbitration Court, is a; significant factor ; in tho reopening of the Waihi mines, and '' the restarting ol" milling" operation's. It is all tho nioro gratifying to thoso anxious '■>. to resume work to learn that over fifty ■ men havo joined, and application for registration, has been forwarded..:".'. COAL SUPPLY, ■'.:' Duncdln, September 11, • The "Star" is aulhoriH'd to Kiy.-it i» ■ ' understood that arrangements have been , ■ entered into between tlio. Xcw Zealand , coalmine owners and the New Zealand Goldmine Owners' Association for providing tlmt the Waihi companies shall bo , supplied with nil the coal they require, no matter what action the federation-of . Labour may take. . .-V- : \ SUBSIDENCE. Waihi, September n. Owing to heavy rains, a slight subsidenol in parts of the surface of the Martha Hill is noticeable.