WHY WAS MITCHELL MOVED?

NZ Truth, Issue 437, 8 November 1913, Page 2

WHY WAS MITCHELL MOVED?

A Popular and Sympathic Officer. Does Not Fit-with Square Deal IdeaJs,

Th*e following significant telegram from Auckland, and dated November 3, appeared m the daily papers on Wednesday morning last: — . "During the continuance of the strike. Superintendent N. Keily, of Christchurcii, will direct the operations of the Police Force. tHe arrived m Auckland by. the Main Trunk express' train on -Monday morning, and took charge of 'the district later m the day. Superintendent A. J. Mitchell, who has been succeeded by Superintendent Kiely, ••• left by Monday evening's express train for j Wellington, where he will receive instructions from the ' Commissioner of j I Folice. -■■During Monday afternoonand l evening, Superintendent Kiely had conferences with the Mayor of Auckland and , the chairman of the Harbor Board, and made himself fully acquainted with the situation he has to ha.tdle." .From its knowledge of Inspector Mitchell, "Truth.'; thought that ho Was eminently 'fitted to control Auckland's affairs during the troub- ! lous times of a strike. - Evidently, however, he does not fit m with the ideals of Justiciar Herdman, * on the grounds, probably, that he possesses an abundance of tact, and has found favor with the people. On Sunday night, however, Bob Semple let m some light on dark places, and, perhaps, struck . one of the reason* why Mitchell ' had been removed. In referring to- the Hunlly trouble, be said that up "thero was a crowd of men suffering at the hands of the Government party. - Allison, an ex-member of a bos-om-churn of Bill Massey's, was a large shareholder m the Huntly mine. • A small bo\>- had throwp- a stone through the battery house -Window, and Inspector Mitchell, -of Auckland; had been sent up with a FORCE OF SO POLICE TO HUNT THAT SMALL BOY! - He had seen Mitchell, who was a very fiho man. TKe Inspector had said: "I do not want any cracked skulls here."' Mitchell then went to the Executive of the Union, and asked: "What am There for?" "Sixty men are to be discharged next week," was \he reply. He then rang up plutocrat Allison* arid informed him that the town was perfectly quiet, with all the people' wbrking away, and again put t°o pertinent ' query, "What am I here for ?"'• Al.

lison stammered and stuttered, and sn}d tlu.L he old not know. The Inspector retorted, '"If you discharge one uum while I am here. 1 will take my men nway by the lirst tratn." The speaker said that he had just got word that Mitchell had been removed from Auckland.