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Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 2, 4 January 1916, Page 2

Mr. Frederick Katz, assistant secretary of the Melbourne Clerks' Union, will remember Christmas of 1915 as a time when he- was subjected to ignominious maltreatment by soldiers (writes the Australian correspondent of The Post). He was the mover of a resolution adopted by the Melbourne Trades Hall Council recommending members of all the unions affiliated with the council to ignore the question -cards about to be issued by the Commonwealth authorities in connection with the present recruiting appeal. The office in the city occupied by Katz was invaded ] by over a score of returned soldiers. He ! was asked, " What nationality are you?" " I am an Australian native," replied Katz. "What was your father?" was the next question, to which Katz re-, plied that he was not responsible for his father. Somebody cried, "Let him have it." One of the soldiers who carried a small oil drum containing liquid tar poured the . tar over Katz, who struggled violently, but was held pinned to the wall. Another soldier opened a large soft paper bag and poured the contents, small, soft, downy feathers, over the head and shoulders of Katz, on whom the tar had meanwhile run over face, neck, and clothes, right down to his boots. The soldiers then made off, but returned directly afterwards, and seizing Katz again, hustled him out into the street. A constable on duty near by heard Katz's cries of " Save .•up," and rescued the unhappy assistant secretary and took him to the Melbourne Hospital in a; cab. It was found at the hospital that Kalz's injuries were slight, although his face.was disfigured and his clothes were mined. After a lot- of bat-lung he was allowed to leave. Of course, Mr. Katz is very indignant. He says that if given an opportunity be would have been able to explain that he was not opposed to recruiting but to the '"' undemocratic " nature of the recruiting question cards.' His wife was present in his office at the time of the tarring and feathering, but had no chance, of helping her husband, and was prevented from using a telephone to summon aid. Dr. Pearson, bacteriologist at Christchurch Hospital, has left for Auckland lo assist in dealing with the enteric cases on the Maheno. He was asked by the Government to undertake the work. The Scottish Society ariel Pip« Band will hold a. euehw party to-morrow even■i&p.