THE BROKEN HILL TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 26

THE BROKEN HILL TROUBLE.

DISORDERLY SCENES. SYDNEY: January 5. ! Fifty extra police have been despatched to Broken Hill. The butchers declined to supply the Proprietary mine with meat. I Tom Mann drove Dr Ham round by j another route to the Proprietary mine, ' •where the doctor's services ware required by an injured man. To-day the rails approaching the Proprietary mine were cut through. The police, by a ruse, were drawn away from the spot. I January 6. i Sixty-two additional policemen, including I*2 mounted men, started for the Barrier last night. Business at Broken Hill is paralysed, ard the trouble has ako had a serious effect on trade at Port Pirie. The Proprietary line was cut yesterday in order to prevent a provision train reaching the mine. i Eleven officials were injured in Mon- ! iday's affiay. the case of Mr WorsJey, chief surveyor, being the only serious one. He as till unconscious. . The Minors' Association has notified its Willingness to provide a delegate to oonffir with representative mine-owners and tt'i president of the Arbitration Court" tVith. a view to a settlement. . j All tlirea lines to the Proprietary mine I fcave been damaged. j Another force of 110 police were de- ! to-night. January 7. The thr-3e Proprietary railway lines '• vrere torn up in some places, and in j ©thets they were blocked with large fanxlders. The mine is now .completely i But oft. No attempt will ba made at Reseat to resume running trains. Some j telephone wires have also been pulled . Soyn, and the insulators broken. I Toai Mann, who as taking a prominent J

part in the leadership of the men, is delivering inflammatory speeches against the <£ipitalistic system. One hundred and ten police were despatched last night, and several hundred more are held in readiness for the Barrier if their services are required. The Chief Secretary has directed the mining inspectors not to Tecognise the . unions when they desire to enter the mines, and if interfered with they must look to the Government for protection through the police. The unions are appealing for funds to support them wliile the trouble lasts. January 8. The Labour Council has decided to issue a circular to all unions appealing for immediate help and for continued financial support on behalf of the Barrier miners. The- point was taken that the adoption of the resolution was a defiance of the new Arbitiation law, whereupon some speakers urged that they should seize the chance of defying such* a law. There was a quiet day at the Barrier yesterday. The pickets, acting on the advice of their leaders, show greater caution, but the eiege of the Proprietary mine is closely maintained. The men are very determined, and confident of victory. A train arrived eaily this morning with 100 additional police, but there was no demonstration. A meeting of the Propiietary mine directors discussed the question of submitting tli.9 dispute to the Aibitration Court. It was subsequently announced that a communication had been cent to the president of the court, but the natuie of its contents was not disclosed. l T lie directors also d-ecaded to offer a reward of £500 for information leading to the conviction of the persons wlio had" attacked the members of the mining staff at the local office on Monday last. The water main at the Proprietary mine was dynamited, but the pipes had not been in use for inariy years. January 9. The Proprietary directors have agreed to the suggestion of the- pxasident of the Arbitration Court for a conieren.ee, with

] the proviso that before it is held the y j men's pickets must be first withdrawn j from the mine and the works at Port • Ph-ie. A preliminary conference will be j held tliis forenoon to discuss the question of the withdrawal of the pickets. Tom Mann and 14 others have been arrested at Broken Hill on a charge of attempting to enter the Pioprietary Company's property. Many other arrests have been made on changes of violence. January 10. A scene of wild excitement occurred • when a trolley, laden with provisions, was being taken to the Proprietary Company's mine under a stronij police escort. Ths crowd hooted, and stones were thrown at the mounted police, who, ac | '• soon as the trolley had been taken to j the mine, turned and menaced the crowd, most of whom took to their heels and ran. | Meanwhile th,3 foot police reinforced 1 the- mounted men and arrested several of the most violent of the crowd, who were taken to the police Ftation with th* | utmost difficulty. Latfior in the afternoon Tom Mann, with I 14 others, among whom were officials of r the union, were arrested. Tom "Mann, with a Socialist flag and a large crowd headed by a band, marched to the Proprietary Company's property. A serious riot followed, but the polioe were masters of tha situation. Altogether 30 people were arrested. A couple of the police were slightly injured. There was a big procession of demonstrators at Broken Hill to-day. The speakers warmly denounced yesterday's arrests, but the proceedings were orderly. Prior to yesterday's trouble the men's j representatives met the Proprietary Company's manager and discussed the suggestion to withdraw the pickets preparatory to a conference with the view of submitting the trouble to the Arbitration Court. The men declined to withdraw the pickets unless the police were withdrawn, and the meeting was abortive. January 11. i>ail was refused Tom Mann and the other arrest ees. Another load of pro-visions was takun into the mine yesterday. No attempt was made to block it. Dining Saturday's riot the police captured tha flag carried by the processionists. It was recaptured, but ths police again seized and secured it. Several on both sides were wounded, but none seriously. At the Broken Hill Police Court to-day j Tom Mann and 27 others were charged •with unlawfully assembling together and with taking part in a riot. They weie | remanded for a week, each being allowed j bail in £200. The Mayor bailed Tom | Mann, and sureties were found for the ! others. On individual charges of stone-throw- ' ing, a&saultirg the police, and usi;i» | indecent language all were similarly re- ' manded, £10 bail being allowed. | There war- an immense crowd roun-1 J the courthouse, and the crush broke down , the gates. The police used their batons to drive ' the crowd back and restore order. On;? j arrest was made. The diiectors of the. Proprietary Company discussed at length in camera to-day the question of submitting the trouble to the Arbitration Court. It is understood that they are awaiting further information from the general manager of the mine before coming to a decision. The Postmaster-general stated to-nighr that he had received from a reliable souice confidential news of a most reassuring character concerning the trouble.