BILL BELCHER INTERVIEWED.

NZ Truth, Issue 438, 15 November 1913, Page 5

BILL BELCHER INTERVIEWED.

Pommelled at Lyttelton,

Favors Continuaneo of Ferry Berviee.

In a bit of % quandary at tho turn events were taking, surprised at the absence of Belcher ami his fellow delegates from Auckland and Duasdln, and hearing, adverse comments from individual members at tho meeting, wbun such an important resolution is A CALL TO STRIKE was being discussed, "Truth's" rep. took tho opportunity of nailing o& Bill at his quarters In the Cluo Hotel on Sun Jay morning lost at im> o'clock. Bill was m bod, and, after a very courteous and kindly greeting, apologised and explained that ho wiis suffering very sovorely from th«s pummelling bo had received on the Lyttelton wharf, on his iray up to Wellington. His muscles, from ceck to huet, and his ribs were so stilt and sore thai bo could scarcely move, ivhllo his big ! volco could scarcely he raised abovo a whisper. Ho described it oh a most blackguardly and brutal attack. Ho was thumped, kicked and > nustlod until it was with difficulty ho *cramblcil aboard tho boat "Unfortuaately," ha remarked feelingly, "I HAD LEFT MY LITTLE OUN AT HOME, otherwito somebody would have boon hurt." With^ regard to tho strike ho wild that he was convinced that It would bo nn unwise move to closo down tho Ferry B«rvlce. That w<viUl mean tho ALIENATION' OF I'UBUC SYMPATHY, M every passonßtsr »uok up at cither ond would bo turu«Hl into » loud-voiced protesting enemy. Ho bad wcured flvo men to kc«p tho Maori moving cent them on ahead of him. and thus caused th« CytujKoo trouble Ho ha 4 a direct aiwuranco from tho fO*n&Gcmcat of tho Vnlon Ca that not an ounce of cargo would bo carried jphio vhQ jUsputO UaUO, 00 lons *•

the mails and passengers were kept' moving. He h&d not gone to Saturi day's meeting because HE HAD NUT BREN INVITED, : neither had the other delegates. He felt that if he went unannounced, he might have lo face a similar ordeal to the one he had faced m Lytteltcn. On a previous occasion he had called al the local offices of the Seamen's Union and had been snubbed and treated m a most.- discourteous manner. The same treatment had been meted out to the Auckland men. He hoped that a meet r ing would be arranged the following day, when an"" amicable settlement would be arranged.