THE WAIHI TROUBLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 35, 4 October 1912, Page 3

THE WAIHI TROUBLE.

WOMEN FIGHT WITH UMBRELLAS. (Per Press Association.) Waihi, October 3. The position of the men employed by the Waihi Company is vastly improved by the introduction of brakes to convoy the men to and from their work at the mine. This afternoon, when the day shift came off, there was another largo gathering of ironworkers and women. Shortly after the whistle sounded the signal for knocking off work a brake driven by a constable and occupied by about twenty workers came down the i mine road into the main thoroughfare, which had been cleared by the police, the crowd 'occupying the pavements. Indiscriminate hooting greeted the appearance of the vehicle, and its occupants responded by cheering. Later a second brake load of workers was conveyed to their homes. The occupants, when 'passing the crowd, sang “Rule Britannia.” When the workers who live at the Central Hotel were leaving tire conveyance, a number of hostile women, who were waiting there;; indulged in groans and hoots. Suddenly two women, a Red Federationist and a loyalist, attacked each other with their umbrellas. The fray was a bitter and fierce one while it lasted. The husband of one appeared on the scene, and, with the assistance of the police, the combatants were separated. This was the only incident of violence during the day. It is expected that a number of more men will resume work to-morrow. The extra men going on to-day were twelve from Waikino. THE DAf DEMONSTRATION. AUSTRALIA’S SUPPORT. Wellington, October 3. Explaining the telegram stating that the Federation of Labour proposes a suspension of work for 24 hours as a protest against the imprisonment of the Waihi men, Mr J. Glover, secretary of the Federation of Labour, said that to-day the executive did not sit for five days 'as stated, nor did it make a call on the affiliated Unions to suspend work for twenty-four hours in order to hold meetings to protest against the imprisonment of the Waihi men. What was done was to suggest to tire Unions that they should suspend work for twenty-four hours in order to demonstrate. This would be done by all workers in the Grey district, miners and all others, on Saturday next. The demonstration of protest will then bo held,next Saturday week (12th October). All the Buffer workers will stop work for twentyfour hours, and on that day the workers in all the Unions in Christchurch, which are affiliated with the Federation, will also suspend work. So far as Wellington, Auckland, Huntley, and other places are concerned the dates are yet to be fixed. The following telegram was to-day received from Waihi from Mr Fraser, the Federation’s representative at Waihi:—“The position is the same today. A few more have been drafted from Waikino, but no miners. A large crowd was again following-up last night and to-day. The position yesterday was that forty all told started, over twenty from Waikino, several members of the Engineers’ Union and one underground worker. The rest were surface men. Three went below. Three Union men resumed, but two were unfinancial.” Mr Webb, President of the Federation, who returned from Australia' yes-

torday, said to a reporter to-day, “Australia is with us to a man. They recognise that this fight is their fight. They have shown their sympathy in a practical financial way. I have been away ten weeks, and the collections, levies and financial help, we have received for Waihi and Ilcefton from New Zealand and Australia now amounts to £18,596. An amount of £20!) was received by cable from Port Adelaide yesterday but is not included. On my tour in Australia I learned that every union, and trades council endorsed our appeal. Only in Sydney, by a ( majority of six, were we turned down.” |