“GO-SLOW" PROSECUTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 17918, 25 April 1917, Page 5

“GO-SLOW" PROSECUTIONS

AUCKLAND TRIAL CONTINUED, CABLE TO AUSTRALIA EXPLAINED. (Per United Press Association,) AUCKLAND, April 24. At the trial of John Jones, President of the Coal-miners’ Federation, for conspiring to encourage a seditious strike at the Taupiri mines, Sub-Inspector McIlveney gave evidence - of the arrest of defendant and others at Huntly, the search of the houses and the Union’s offices, and the seizure of documents. Defendant gave every assistance. Jordan, another defendant, admitted having written and posted a notice at the extended pithead on February 2Sth. Mr Singer, for defendant, asked permission to make an explanation -which his clients were. anxious to have made respecting the correspondence dealing with the Australian strike, Mr Meredith in his opening address had made a strong point of a cable sent to Australia signed “Arbuckle,” and stating: “We have granted the New Zealand Government permission to load the Kaiapoi with coal for. Albany for a hospital ship and New Zealand troopships only. Wire immediately whether this will affect Australia's position and whether we are at liberty to agree to future supplies for such ships.”' The prosecuting counsel suggested that the body of whjch Arbuckle was the mouthpiece was acting as a superior body to tbe New Zealand Government, and that the destinies of New Zealand were not controlled by the representative Government, but by a select coterie known as the Coal-miners’ Federation Union. As a matter of fact, when Mr Meredith made that part of his address he was not aware of the circumstances under which the cable was sent. The matter was of importance to the miners, and they wished it to be known that they did pot usurp the functions of the executive Government, but that transactions and wires between Arbuckle and the Australian miners were carried out and sent with the consent and knowledge of the Government. More than that they were sent at the expense of the New Zealand Government. What might bp known as the ‘‘permission cable” to Australia was written in the presence and at the request of the Minister for Justice, and sent away by the Minister or one of his secretaries. The' wording of the telegram was decided by the parties in conference, including Mr Hanan, and it was written by one of Mr Hanan’s secretaries. Mr Mcllveney, proceeding, read telegrams and letters found in defendant’s possession relating to the matters of the Federation. Among the documents were a series of telegrams and letters signed by Arbuckle, in which the policy of restriction was frequently referred to as was the subject of a ballot by the West Coast miners and the eventual agreement of all miners there except those of Millerton to the adoption of restriction.” The hearing was adjourned.