POSITION AT WAIHI

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 13 November 1912, Page 8

POSITION AT WAIHI

ARBITRATIONISTS RULE. I FEDERATIONISTS LEAVING THE DISTRICf. STRIKERS SEEK POLICE PROTECTION. ST TELEGRAPH —PRESS 4.BSOOIATION. WAIHI, Nov. 12, The federationists were chased by the workers whenever they appeared. On one occasion a federationist was suadenly espied, and in a moment the crowd rushed him. The police, seeing the move, rushed to intercept them. Two or three constables seized the i.:aa and ran him up the street to get ls:m away from the crowd. After taking him a short way they let him go, but he was no sooner by himself than the crowd gave chase. The police also ran, with the object of protecting him. At Wynyard's corner be was caught, roughly handled, and sent sprawling to the'ground. The police again surrounded him and pushed him into a butcher's shop. The crowd yelled, and attempted to push their way in, where the unfortunate man lay huddled on the floor. There were about twenty police on the scene. They prevented any of the crowd entering, and partially succeeded in clear ing them. The man was then escorted into Rosemont road. The crowd attempted to follow, but were prevented by the police. The man was eventually set free, and started off at a run. The crowd again attempted to get past the police, but were stopped in the street. About 20 federationists were included. It then looked as if the man would have got clear, but suddenly a worker, fleet of foot, slipped past the police, and then a great race ensued. The federationist fled for his life, while the worker, followed closely by the police, pursued J him. One of the constables outstripped ( his fellow men, and gradually lessened ' the distance between himself and the worker. The latter had got within a few yards of the' federationist when the constable overtook and grabbed him. The federationist then got clear away. Just after this incident a local bootmaker, a pronounced "red-ragger," re- ' ceived the attention of the same worker. | The latter rushed at him, telling him to "clear otut." Before the police could prevent it, the man was hit and knocked down. The police got round him, and while he was on the ground searched him, but found no weapons other than a heavy file. He was then escorted to safety by the police. It is reported that the federationist who fired the revolver this morning, luckily without injury, took to his heels as soon as he had fired the shot, and has since eluded discovery. In the early part of the riot a prominent federationist and the husband of a leading "scarlet runner," appealed to the police for protection, as he felt himself in danger from the arbitrationists. The police hardly knew what to do with him, but he solved the difficulty by suggesting that they take him to the lock-up as being the safest place in the town in the exciting state of affairs. The police fell in with the suggestioiij and he was accordingly taken to the station.' Revolvers were taken from several Federationist pickets during the i'oreI noon. | Bands of workers, ranging from 100 I to 200, have been roving the outskirts |of the town. Hearing that some women 1 were being insulted, a band of workers ' made for the locality. They caught one Federationist, and before the police arrived on the scene they gave him a ''rough handling. Tlie mounted constables keeping watch on the workers hunted them off, and placed a temporary guard over the home of the Federationist. Mr Kennedy. before leaving his house on Martha. Hill, asked for police protection while en route to the railway station. Two constables escorted him down to Moresby avenue, where a number of irate workers rushed towards him, and Kennedy told his escort that he would <ro no further till more police : arrived. Kennedy then Avent into a i friend's bouse, and waited there till the j arrival of mounted and foot police reinforcements, an escort numbering I about a dozen. When they got to I Devon street, tlie crowd broke through i the police guard and severely knocked I Kennedy about: At this moment a passing vehicle was brought into requisition, and Kennedy was put into it and driven to the railway station. Waikino is said to he* clear of Federationists. Many departures t'>ok place to-day. Several of the homes of the Federationists who have been conspicuous in calling- out "scab" and other epithets ho the workers and th<ur womenfolk hare been visited. The inmates were told that they would have 48 hours to leave the town, or must take the conseouences. Tn one instance a Federationist replied that he would 1 c earned to the cemetery before he would clear out. The members of tbe new union held a mass meeting in the Union Hall Buildings, which were packed. Mr Rudd, president pro. tern., addressed the meeting. He explained that in view of the fact that they had among them a-num-ber of financial members" of the. Federation Union, they had a perfect right to the use of the hall. He went on to say that they, had put up with insults to themselves and their wives and families long enough at the hands of the red-raggers," and that certain of these individuals should be driven out oi the town. It was unanimously decided that these men, of which a list had been prennrrd, and read to the meeting, would be given 48 hours' notice to clear out ot tne town or take the consequences. Several prominent members of the new union gave short addresses, applause and cheers greeting each at the conclusion of their remarks. One speaker emphasised the fact that the hall hod been built for the workers and miners, and that they hoped in a very •short time that the new union would be in legal possession of the building. Votes of thanks,were accorded to the Government for sending police to Waihi and to the police for their conduct. ' . J he proceedings terminated with the singing of-"God Save the King." A number of federationists, including a dozen women, left Waihi by the afte£ noon tram, and a few more left by a later tram. To-night a 'bus-load, containing two red federationist families, left for Paeroa, and a cab with the wife and children of a prominent federationist drove away to Paeroa. ' Another federationist, in-his eagerness to leave the town hurriedly .sold his furniture, the whole lot being purchased by a second-hand dealer for £2. A number of applications from "red j raggers" for protection have been ieceived by the police.