WEDNESDAY AT WAIHI.

NZ Truth, Issue 380, 5 October 1912, Page 5

WEDNESDAY AT WAIHI.

The Talc of a Toil-torn and Tormented Town.

Women of Waihi Out on the Warpath.

The Police In Force— Pickets and Peace— Free Laborers Loaded on to Vans— The ''Scab" ScentedStrangers Scrutinised— Some Street Scenes— A Night at the Theatre— What Happened on Wednesday— Women take a Hand— Jeers, Groans, and Hoots— When the Whistle Went —The Strikers m Secret Assembly— The Official Report of a Meeting— Miners Claim a Victory— At Knock-off Time— Scenes of Disorder— Both Sides Confident— What Has the Future m Store?

[BY TELEGRAPH FROM "TROTH'S" SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT?.]

!■■'.•' WAIHI. Wednesday Night. The Martha opened on Wednesday, but how long it will remain open is a matter of much speculation on account of the moderate number of free laborers who turned up. In conse<juence" of wild rumors . twenty-nine fresh .police were drafted m Auckland on Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday a nunrber of constables from the outlying districts . were also sent along. On Tuesday several free laborers arrived, but THERE WAS NO DEMONSTRATION, and although there was a strong picket of strikers at the station the/ free, laborers were quickly loaded into the brakes and driven away escorted by mounted police and accommodation: secured for them. The strike pickets were exceedingly well organised; no move m the game escapes them, : and they seem to be able to tell at once where the free laborers are living. ' Tuesday evening was wet and miserable, and the streets almost empty, except that there were a very large

! number of police, about one hundred and ten m all. They are going about m twos and fours, and little groups were to be found on every street cor- | ner. Several strike pickets were about, ! but were not conspicuous. There was I one fairly big picket outside Hay- | ward's Theatre, which was boycotted ! early m the strike. A number oC < policemen were there In uniform and i plain clothes. About six plain-clothes "coppers" entered the hall, and the night passed without any disturbance, although things appeared tense and i strained. Wednesday morning BROKE BEAUTIFULLY CLEAR. The strikers wero out about six O'clock, together with a largo number of women and girls. They were quite | cheerful, and Indulged In banter among j themselves. The day was to .be one ifor apodal demonstration by tho woI men, and a group of them carried a red banner of the Federation, and as the Artbitrationlsts came along went out to meet them, and marched before and behind them waving the red banner over them, boohing and giving ironical cheers. The Amazons wero most enthusiastic about their work, and In one instance went to the entrance of the hotel at which some Arbltrationlsts were staying and wutted till they came out, and then escorted thorn right up f .he street to the foot of the stope loading up to tho Martha Mine entrance. A largo crowd, estimated at 300 strikers and their wives, and 100 other miners from Karangahako Jn sympathy, had collected by 7.30. They were very orderly (the Federation having given strict orders that no violence wns to be Indulged In). All seomod quite cheerful, and an occasional "Are we down-hearted? — No" indicated that they wore thoroughly enjoying themselves. As each free laborer carao

along, escorted by the police, they were gTeeted with ioud boohs and sarcastic cheers. The women, particularly, were very demonstrative, and closed m several times on the free laborers, one woman flicking one across the face with her handkerchief. THE WOMEN WERE , MUCH MORE : EXCITED . than the men, and frequently used the word "scab," the ordeal being too much for some,' of the: miners who turned back. The police, under Commissioner Cullen and - S^nr.-Sergt. McKinnon,. got the others through on to the mine property.'- All approaches to , the mine ! property were ."strictly guarded, but I the strikers kept to the road, and the police were subject to a great deal of banter. By eight, some 20 to 30 free laborers had duly been escorted to the mine. Then the mine whistle blew, accompanied by boohing and. ironical cheers, a few minutes later. Two or three Arbitrationists came along- m a trap and met with a "reception." Finally a whistle was heard, and the crowd scattered to the right and left. It was the Company's engine from

Waikino mine, with a string of trucks. In the first truck were six free laborers, and they were greeted with loud hoots and groans. They had beeu working formerly at Waiklno, but had been drafted through to Waihi. The train went right through ami disappeared Into the mine. Soon after, it came along again, drawing a few trucks of quaTtz on its way to the crushing battery. It was noticeable that grass was growing on the quartz, which had evidently been mined before the strike. The driver and fireman were hooted and groaned. The crowd next watched a large heap of tailings outsWft the mine, facing tho road, for the Arbitrationists to appear at the tips. Whenever one did so, he was hooted AND SARCASTIC DOUBTS thrown on his ability for tho job. Ono cheerfully waved his hand In reply, and was greoted with howls. The crowd got tired of this, however, as the free laborers did not appear very often, and soon after nine o'clock they returned m the direction of the town and outside tho Miners' Hall and across the street a big crowd of miners and their wives gathered. They were frequently heard to say that they were satisfied that the mine could not carry on, and reckoned that victory was theirs. A constant watch was kept for Arbltrationlsts, and when any came aJom; they were assailed with "boohs" and groans. Soon a group of Engine-dri-vers came on their way to the bank to draw their wages, and recolv-ni a big demonstration. Tho drivers, however, appeared thoroughly unconcerned nnd did not get excited. ! A meeting of .strikers wa.B bold m tho hall, which was packed, judging by the repeated cheering heard from I outside, Thq press representatives

were not admitted, and generally it seemed to be a most en-tlrosiastic gathering. The result at the meeting officially given to "Truth's"- representative was .that the strikers considered THEY HAD WON A. VICTORY, and were more determined than ever to carry on the figM. "Truth's" representative interviewed Messrs Smith, Frazer and Kennedy, the executive of the Miners' Union, and they all stated that not one underground contractor had gone backhand only one competent underground -man, one wages man on surface work bad gone back; also some timbermen, one fitter, three mullockers, with surface contracts, one of Avhom had been a menYber of the union .drawing strike pay, had resumed work. Most of the men were drafted from) Waikino, and were' old men and youths. The men engaged to go underground are not lit to work. It is considered that only 24 fresh hands were taken on, and they ai*e mostly from. Waikino, the rest being tally clerks and mine bosses. The

; authorities of the mine, on the other ! hand, state that they have got fifty [hands, exclusive of tally clerks. Tho j mine bosses have oilers from many ! more, and probably will have 100 j fresh men m a day or two. Iha work at the mine is to proceed without a break. There is to be one shift daily for a start. The now Arbitration unionists oro confident of their ultimate sucjv»s", and consider their chances excellent. They say that the union is established on a iirm basis, and a strong circumstance is that it is gaining numbers every day. They nave their own hall, and a fairly lnrg" membership. They are evidently not afraid of the strikers, or, at any rate, do not show it, and got riither a neat return on to the Federation the other night. It will bo remembered that some thno ago tho Federation trampled under foot, the Union Jack, and tho Arbltrationists painted a board the colors of the Union Jack and screwed it to the wall of the miners' hall, soniu genius adding a coating of birdlime. The Federation retaliated by draping it. The scene when the Arbitrationists ceased Work at five o'clock on Wednesday was indescribable. Tho first pair to comu away came liy themselves, and wore immediately CHAsr?:!) .ny a crowd of STRIKERS and girls, even women with young chiMren m prams joining m. Tho Arbitrationists were followed right home. Then a large Imich of about fifteen came along, each man accompaniod by policemen. A big rush once more made at the free laborers who were escorted by booh-

•ing: crowds to their destinations. Two took refuge m an adjacent "hotel, where they remained under police protection, with the crowd waiting patiently for them. As each successive batch' came along-, it was followed right home. The experience must have been a, trying 1 one for the "free" men> "being much worse' than it was m the morning. • ' It seems, considering all the incidents of the day, that Waihi is m for troublous times m the future. • Perhaps the strikers may tire on their following home tactics,' but at present they are very enthusiastic about 'it, and, what is more, seem very' much m earnest, as even' -stranger is closely scrutinised and looked at with suspicion. The word "scab" is freely bandied about, ami should the leaders lose their grip on the men and the women there certainly will be trouble. At any rate it is to be a waiting- game, and the party with the most patience must win. .