TARRED AND FEATHERED.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5354, 10 February 1916, Page 2

TARRED AND FEATHERED.

FURTHER DETAILS

Mr Frederick Katz, assistant secretary of the Melbourne Clerk’s Union, will remember Christmas of 1015 as a time when he was subjected to ignominious, maltreatment by soldiers (writes an Australian correspondent). Hie was the mover oi a resolution adopted by the Melbourne Trades Ha 1 Council recommending members of all the unions affiliated with the council to ignore the question cards about to be issued by the Commonwealth authorities in connection with the present recruiting appeal. The office in the city occupied by Katz was invaded by over a score of returned soldiers. He was asked, “What nationality art> you?” “1 am an Australian native,” replied Katz. “What was your father?” was the next question, to which Katz replied that lie was not responsible for his father. Somebody cried, “Let him have it.” One of the soldiers who carried a small oil drum containing liquid tar poured the tar over Katz, who struggled violently, but was held pinned to the wall. Another soldier opened a large soft paper bag, and p wired the contents, small, soft, downy feathers, over the head and shoulders c f Katz, on whom the tar had meanwhile run over face, neck, and clothes, right down to his boots. The soldiers then made off. but returned directly afterwards, and seizing Katz again, bustled him out into the street. A constable on duty near by beard Katz’s cries of “Save me,” and rescued the unhappy assistant secretary and took him to the Melbourne Hospital in a oah. It was found at the hospital that Katz’s injuries were slight, although his face was disfigured and his clothes were ruined. After a lot of bathing he was allowed to leave. Of course, Mr Katz is very indignant. He says that if given an opportunity he would have lax>n able to explain that he was not opposed to recruiting, but to the “undemocratic” nature of the recruiting question cards. His wife was present in his office at the* time of the tarring and featliering, hut had nr> chance of helping her husband, and was prevented from using a telephone to summon aid.