POSITION AT HUNTLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15504, 10 January 1914, Page 8

POSITION AT HUNTLY.

WORK CONTINUES STEADILY.

STRIKERS' SECRET BALLOT.

DECISION TO REMAIN IDLE.

SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY.

YOUNG MINER PROSECUTED,

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.]

Hpktly, Friday. The police turned out this morning as usual, and after picking up the various little bands in different parts of the town, escorted the workers to tho Extended mine. When the men assembled as the whistle blew it was found that two experienced miners and a trucker had thrown in their lot with the new union. The excitement that prevailed on Tuesday morning has entirely died down, and the worker? and their escort are allowed to proceed to and from their work without being followed or molested in any way. With the exception of Tuesday morning there have been fewer people about the streets during the week than was usual before the mine started. This morning the number to be seen would scarcely total twenty all told. A meeting of the employees of the Taupiri Company was held lust night in the King's Hall to discuss the advisability of taking over the control of the Medical Association, as at present bold by officers representative of the old WaikaUi Miners' Union and the Huntly Miners' Union. Mr. S. Dixon having explained the object of the meeting, it was decided to take over the association. Office-bearers were elected as follows :—Committee, Messrs. J. A. Parks, J. Clout, C. Starr. A. Garlyon. J. Darby, T. Webb. J. Gilmour, E. Kennedy, and H. Armstrong; trustees, Messrs. Albert Berry and A. Carlyon. At a meeting of the newly-elected committee, held subsequently. Mr. Parkes. was appointed chairman. Mr. T. Webb secretary, and Mr. C. Starr treasurer, the officials having been empowered to make all arrangements for the continuance of the association. Proceedings in Court.

A young minor named William Foresham appeared at, the Court this morning before Messrs, J. P. Bailey and E. J. Farrell, J.P.'s. to answer a "charge of assaulting Constable Taylor while in the execution of his duty. The accused, who was defended by Mr. Robertson, pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Hastie conducted the prosecution. Constable Taylor stated that on the afternoon of January 6 he was engaged with other constables in escorting several of the workers from the mines to their homes in Huntly South. A number of strikers, probably fifty strong, were following behind. Constable Mcßao requested the men to disperse, and as the request was not complied with, the constables rode their horses in among them in order to break tlie party up. Several of the strikers jumped over the barb wire fence which separated the road from a paddock, while one man on the road seized his' (witnesses) bridle, asked biro to dismount, and take his part on foot. Witness did so and seized the man as he was getting through the fence and was holding him by the shoulders, when the accused, who came to the assistance of his comrade, kicked witness on the shin. Both men eventually got away, but, giving chase, witness caught accused, who he swore was the man that did the kicking. This evidence was corroborated by several other constables. Case for the Defence. For the defence the accused said that between 4 and 5 p.m. on the day in question he had visited the store and, his business completed, was proceeding homeward without any intention of following the workers, who were a short' distance in* front of him. There would bo about a dozen men walking along the road at the same time as he was. There certainly were not more than 20. A mounted constable rode on the footpath and asked where they were going. Having replied that they were on their way home the constable ordered them to disperse and at the same time rode in among them. The witness, while jammed up against the fence, was struck over the head with the whip used by one of the policemen. The constable then dismounted. Witness got through the fence and was making off when the constable gave chase, captured him, and dragged him through the fence. He swore that he did not kick the constable. He was most emphatic on the point. Several other witnesses described the events leading up to the scuffle, all swearing that they saw no kicking. Accused was convicted and discharged no costs being allowed. " Strikers' Secret Ballot. A mass meeting of the strikers was held to-day, Mr. W. Wood presiding, when it was decided to take a secret ballot on the question of going back to work, the meeting being attended bv some 300 men. The result of the ballot showed that the miners were determined to adhere to the attitude they have assumed, the voting being 230 in favour of remaining out on strike against 70 who voted for resumption of work.