UNLAWFUL BESETTING

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1933, Page 3

UNLAWFUL BESETTING

RELIEF WORKERS’ STRIKE. FOUR MEN ARRAIGNED. REFUSAL TO PLEAD. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) WELLINGTON, Friday.

Four men who have been taking a prominent part in the relief workers’ strike were arrested in their homes last night and charged before Mr E. Page, S.M., today with unlawfully besetting a place where relief workers were engaged with a view to compelling them to abstain from doing acts which they had a legal right to do. , They were Charles Norris Brooks, aged 37; Richard ’ Henry Webb, 28; Charles Frederick Barker, 49; and John Harvey Blair, 37. The men refused to plead either guilty or not guilty. Blair said ho thought it farcical to plead, and Webb said that he refused to recognise the court. The police, in asking for a remand, said accused were at the head of a group of about 350 men which visited relief jobs, endeavouring to got other men to leave work. In order to avoid trouble the men had been taken off their jobs when 'the group was seen appearing.

The police suggested that the men’s bail he substantial, but their counsel intimated that bail was not asked for and the remand w T as not opposed. The men were remanded till Tuesday. The striking relief workers yesterday afternoon formed a picket and visited jobs on which men are still working, seeking to induce them to down tools. Over 100 men visited the Wellington College ground, where the men had been solidly against striking. They made such an impressive force that small working gangs of about 20 men each thought it beat to cease activity. However, they will resume work tomorrow under police protection.

With the police keeping a-watchful eye, the strikers visited the Wellington East Girls ’ College job, where they induced some men to join them. The crowd then moved up the hill to approach the Hataitai job, but the nows of their approach caused all the workers there to leave. Picket’s Course Barred. The picket formed itself into marching order in columns of fours, but four constables in a motor car barred the "way, and warned them against continuing. The massed body of men broke up, tout the men struggled oh, accompanied by foot police. Several other jobs were visited, and the ranks of the picket wore increased. The party then marched through Newtown, its numbers there being estimated at some hundreds, and arrived at the Trades Hall at 5 p.m.> having covered about eight miles in the circuit of the . relief wo/ks. Steps are! being taken. to prevent pickets from harassing men on the 80 jobs in and around Wellington.

In a statement yesterday it was made clear that the strike in Wellington is not national in character. It was added that many relief workers in Wellington ..had approached the National Union office desiring to know if the strike was national. These men were being told that the dispute was purely local, as Wellington had not yet be'en afforded an opportunity to affiliate with the National Union. It is officially stated that not more than 100 were absent from work at midday yesterday. Women pickets now r number 20. . ' It is clear that the strike is not making headway. The propaganda committee of the strike movement says that approximately 1000 attended a meeting yesterday, and there -is to be a deputation later to the Minister of Employment. .