CHEERS, GROANS, AND, HOOTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 72, 21 September 1912, Page 9

CHEERS, GROANS, AND, HOOTS

THE PART OF THE WOMEN (»t TttJSOJMM— SMCIAI TO TH» MIT.) lt . , ; WAIHI, This Day. Although the strikers of Waihi have dropped the "following-up" tactics, which the Court has made abundantly clear is an illegal proceeding, there have been many opportunities during the past few days for those who feel so inclined to indulge in open hooting of those whom they regard as enemies in the present struggle. The engine-drivers, as they left the Court, were fervently and vigorously hooted,' and this forceful if not elegant mode of displeasure wns repeated yesterday at the conclusion of the strike cases. With twenty-nine strikers bound over to keep the peace there has been plenty to keep excitement at fever heat. The more and more active part which the women of Waihi are beginning to play in the movement has added a new complexion to the position. Easily the majority of those who are related in any way to the strikers approve entirely of the stubborn action of the men folk in electing to go to gaol rather than consent to b« bound over to keep the peace. There is a hard; determined glint in the eyes of those who have been frequenting the precincts of the Court during the hearing of the 6trike prosecutions, and their voices are shrill with excitement as they join in the cheering and the hooting. That the women in Waihi are restless is abundantly indicated by their presence in large numbers in the Btreets at all times, children of tender years who simply must be looked after being brought' along in perambulators. .The young girls, too, have caught the prevailing malady. First thing yesterday the twenty-four strikers who had refused to find sureties of the peace were taken into custody. In a couple of hours there were five niore to add to- the number. Meanwhile the passage of the first lot in drafts across the f back of the Court grounds into the police quarters adjoining was the signal for excited cheers for the prisoners and for deep hoots for the line of police who prevented the waiting crowd of spectators m front from dosing up too far. The crowd patiently watching the police station for the departure of the prisoners was large right throughout the morning and afternoon. It assumed exceptionally large proportions after 2 o'clock, the idea no doubt being that the men would be taken away by the afternoon train. As 3 o'clock came everyone apparently settled down to await some other move, and it afterwards became known that pickets had ■ been watching the stables at Paeroa, and duly reported the departure of two' large brakes, presumably bound for Waihi. Shortly after a quarter-past three there was a general cry of "Here they comet" and two four-horse brakes with an imposing escort hove into sight and drew up before the police station. The waiting crowd was remarkably orderly, and it was noticeable that members of the Miners' Union played a prominent part in controlling the eagerness of the watchers. As the men filed out of the station they were greeted with rousing cheers, and as they climbed quietly into the brakes, cheerful, but anxious to have it all over, they waved greetings to relatives and acquaintances among the spectators. Three cheers were given for the Federation of Labour, and the procession moved off amid a scene of wild enthusiasm, clieering and the waving of handkerchiefs adding to the general excitement, while the pent-up feelings found ultimate relief in vigorous groans for the polic*. The men were taken to Paeroa, thence to be taken by train to Frankton Junction to join the Main Trunk express for Auckland. MS. SEMPLE ARRIVES. Robt. Semple arrived in Waihi last night, and was welcomed by a small riy of strikers. Later in the evening briefly addressed several hundred people outside the Miners' Union Hall. He was received with tumultuous cheers and a vigorous assurance that : "We are not down-hearted." He declared that the workers of the colony were behind the men and women of Waihi, while the mine owners were sheltering behind the batons of the police and the bayonets of the soldiers. The position in Waihi to-day was stronger, he said, than on the day when work was first stopped. The coal miners, in spite of assertions to the contrary, did not grudge the 10 per cent, levy, but vied with each other as to which union should subscribe the .most. He congratulated the men who had gono to gaol, and hoped that strikers would fill the gaols of the country before they gave in. He congratulated the women also who had given such valuable sup. port to the men in their struggle. Afterwards Mr. Semple held a confer « ence with the members of the Waihi Strike Committee.