Out and About.

NZ Truth, Issue 443, 13 December 1913, Page 2

Out and About.

Pithy Pars fop Plute and Plug.

No wonder this wide-awake paper has had, on many occasions recently, to take its confreres of the daylie press to task for the glaring inaccuracies m their no wa columns, especially when the matters dealt with pertained to strike proceedings. In the engagement book of a local paper that prides itself on its accuracy, . the chief reporter, the other day, wrote the following:— "10.30 a.m., Mr. — subpaened at court.", " .!, ' ' " *' . ' ■ • ■ • .' - ■ Magistrate Riddell, m dealing with a strike case thef other day^ very sententiously remarked, "ft is a long way easier to got into trouble than to .get out of jt." Moro especially when a myopic magistrate is on the bench. ' . • ♦' • ■• ■■■• ;. ■.■' . A little incident that, happened m Dunedin 'on night might call for some explanation from the authorities later on. Saturday waa pay day with many of the specials, and, naturally, in -the evening, the case-hardened cavaliers sought to soften themselves somewhat by bathing their insides with blessed beer. In any case, one doughty special blow into a convenient pubbery and, after demolishing a : falr , iunouiit? of spirituous liquor, produced a loaded revolver fthd flashed it bravely about. Ho made strong talk of using it?on some striker ero camp would ; ' be struck* A young tradesman standing convenient to the inebriated, incautious special, prevailed upon him, eventually, to hide his iron and scoot. Ho wisely did, so. .• • • "Did you read that cock and bull story m the 'Now Zealand Times' alleged to have been told to one of the reporters by a man named Peter Hasloch?" asked on acquaintance of "Truth's" rep. tho other duy when , travelling townward par Mauawntu train. "I did," said "Truth," "but, why call it a 'cock and tyill story' ?" "Why," replied tho * query ist, " becauso, didn't you see, the 'Dominion' proves thoro is no such man." "The 'Dominion' can't prove that." "I," said "Truth's" rep., "was with the "Times' man at the time and heard Hasloch tell his story. '.* "Well, then, he has given hia wrong name. Do you call* that honorable?" and the apologist for Fat cast a withering look at his tormentor. "No, 1 don't," said "Truth's" rep., quietly, "one doesn't expect to find honor among scabs I ...'•• • ■ • • "Do you know, sir, that there are night watchmen m ull the ortlces and banks m Wellington, and they're armed," asked a friend, as if ho thought he was giving forth some special information. "I do know," replied ■"Truth," "Hut donjt you think it strange? You know »\ich precautions were not taken till a week or so after tho Wateraiders camo out on strike. Isn't ifc significant ?" ho asked. "It is," 7 said "Truth," "but you see thoro wero no 'specials' m the city till a week or so after tho whnrfies came out." "But, surely, you don't mean . . . I" Ha could say no wore, but as ho turned away the look he gave was evidence that a new light had penetrated his case-hardened intellect. • • • • According to tho "Ashburtoh Guardian." South Canterbury farmers are beginning to feel the pinch which results from their sending their farm helpers to Christchurch and Lyttelton tor "spocial" duty. Should it bo necessary to keep tho force of specials going much longer, it is stated that tho harvest will bo seriou«ly affected. What Is felt In tho Canterbury (arming district* must surely bo felt m ©very other part of tho Dominion, and the lont^r tho workers carry out their doctrine of passlvft reslßUujce, tho moro ncut<! will becorao the position of Uioso poor, iniHguided bouls who commenced manufacturing ropes for I their own necks by wndinsr tho men 1 they could ill spare to fight oi\ Jtha side of their owu onomy— tho monopolist. • •'. ' ' * That the Chriatchureh wetion of strikors Is unswerving m "!♦■» loyalty to H* o«"o organisation la proved by tho fact that notwitbpuuidiuff tho maxiy alluring inducemoots which have »>ocn held out to its members to join the,, bowi»' union, not ono of them ha« nibbled at the bolt. T»l* f in spite of the well-known fact U)»t a number am financially down to bed-rock. • • • ••Truth" lmd n visit from Ccortta Fiwlnml. «ecr*U»ry of th« Watereicfo Worker*' Union, thin vtedi. G«t>rge ha» item n Itirg* amount of unob* triwive work during tue etmiuout dtrike tsenmtion, and n l» r tf«> nmount of worry nml trouble ha* fallen to hi* lot, YVt he enmc up th«* stAlra and along -U»0 |*a*»a«tt i'«tnillng'i 2

like our old friend, Mark Tapley. Ha had to report that he * i'ad been "chased out of his 'house?^— to use his b*?n expressive phraso^»y an inexorable landlord. Fo^jJlfeyears he had regularly paid .^BBjgkirbitant rent demanded by JBPWjmi^oYist land: and property stMrkifa&d during that :tiine, at normM Values, ,he had paid for the housft. There 'is" no "give and take" about yourT lu^in who owns things — with a few' honorsable exceptions — ho must have . "'tiis pound of flesh"— "pay up or quit* 1 is his motto. If consciousness of surroundings exists m the ne"&iworld, there will be satisfaction m. calmly watching the "awards for meritorious actions" handed out to • these Shy locks. * v