NEW UNION AND OLD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10892, 5 March 1914, Page 5

NEW UNION AND OLD.

Per Press Association

Auckland, March 3

Considerable feeling exists on the 'waterfront between the two sections of workers, and this afternoon an assault was made upon Stanley Rickards, secretary of tiie new Waterside Workers’ Union. Rickards stated that be was sitting in his office when a man opened the back window of the office, which faces the waterfront, and looked in. “What do you want?” the secretary asked.

“I want to see you,” replied the man, and the secretary invited him inside. The visitor asked in angry tones why he had been rejected by the new union.

‘‘Your application isn’t in,” replied the secretary. ‘‘Yon know very well that it is,” said the-visitor, 'who was standing close to where Rickards was sitting. All this time the secretary was proceeding quietly with his work. 1 ‘ Suddenly, ’ ’ proceeded Rickards, ‘‘the visitor clutShed me by the throat with both hands, and a desperate struggle ensued. 1 was at a considerable disadvantage, as 1 was sitting close to an open drawer at the table, and besides my assailant was a powerfully built man.” For a few moments the struggle continued, and Rickards stated that be was fortunate enough to ba able to rise from bis chair and remove the hands of his aggressor from his throat. “I called out for assistance,” proceeded Rickards, ‘‘hut my assailant osught hold of my throat again and in the struggle which took place the table was overturned and its contents went flying in all directions. Then we both fell down. My assailant was underneath, but he still gripped me by the throat, and I was feeling almost exhausted. To my greai relief, the door was burst open and two or three man came in and dragged the man away. Shortly afterwards, Sergt. Cowan arrived on the scene, but my aggressor bad disappeared. This evening, some time after the struggle, Mr Rickards pointed out to Sergt. Cow an a man who he stated committed the assault, and the man was arrested.