WAIHI DAY BY DAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 69, 14 November 1912, Page 5

WAIHI DAY BY DAY.

THE IMPRISONED STRIKERS

(Tor Press Association.) Auckland, November 13. Bonds have been entered into by Mr. Fraser, of the Federation Executive, for too release of Parry and three other of the imprisoned strikers.

THE END OF THE STRIKE

Waihi, November 13

Order has been restored in tiie town. The exodus of the extreme Federationists continues. About forty left the town this afternoon by tram, some of them being accompanied by their wives and families. Another hatch left by the 6 p.m. train. The destination of some was Auckland, Waikato, and the Thames.

This afternoon, when the men came off shift, there was not the slightest sign of any molestation, indeed, there was not a single Federationist in sight. As has been the custom, the men were picked up by brakes in the street opposite the new Union Hall and driven to their homes. H is understood that the practice of driving the men to work in brakes and driving them- homo again will be abandoned, and the men will walk to and irom choir work. Quite a large number of Fedcrationists applied at the Waihi Company’s office for work, but the applications were not dealt with. Some of the applicants had taken a prominent pari in past demonstrations, and the company had a full knowledge of this, hnl the men protested that they had not been prominent. It is quite certain that tlie worst behaved of these men vvili never get work at either the Wai hi or the Grand Junction mines. The Fecleraticnists are bitter against Mr Semple for the predicament which thej allege ho has got them into. T'hoj state that he should have called tin strike off. Many now state that they knew the game was up some time back mt were waiting for a lead from Mr. Semple. They fully expected that when ne came to Waihii recently he'would have given them something tangihk 'to go on. He did nothing, they allege, but hurl abuse at the police, the Gov eminent, and the employers. This afternoon the police searched mveral strikers > dwellings in Bui town, a suburb of Waihi. and discov ;>red some gelignite, explosive fuse caps, cartridges, a revolver, and s gun, which were promptly removed tc the police station, where there is al ready a collection of confiscated arms Both Constable Wade and his assail ,vnt Evans, wlio are in the hospitalire improving.

REPORT TO THE MINISTER. ' Wellington, November 13. The Hon. A. L. Hardman, Minjste f Justice, received a telegram from iVaihi to-night, as follows:—Constabl Aade continues to progress favour ihly. Tilings were very quiet here al lay. A considerable number of strik irs have left here to-day, to seek cm Joy meat elsewhere, and others aiv preparing to leave.” Speaking to i ‘Times’ representative, the Ministe arid that ho was sure that the latest levelopment would mean an end of the whole trouble. Another week wouk; see matters going along in the sanr way as.before the strike. He could no. say what proceedings would be take: against those who created the disturb nice, whether strikers or workers, midi he had received full reports from the officers on the spot, and until h knew what the evidence was. Evident ly the workers were strongly provoked and their blood was boiling owing t, the shooting.

POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT, Wellington; November 13. Interviewed in regard tcbtbe latest levelopments at Waihi, the Hon. A. L, Herdrnan (Minister for Justice) said that no one regretted more than In? lid the misfortune which had befallen Constable Wade.

“The police at Waihi,” the Minister continued, “are all picked men, and lave, despite insult and extreme provocation, performed their duties in a manner meriting the approval ■of all ■,vho respect law and order. As the Min ister in charge of the force, I cannot speak too highly of the way in which Mr. Commissioner Cullen and his,men nive discharged an exceedingly diffi ■ult duty. Great discretion ban been used, yet great firmness has been diown. I am glad to be able to state that the latest information which I have shows that Constable Wade’s injury is not likely to prove serious. I lave given instructions that if necessary the best medical assistance avail ible is to he obtained, and that everything is to lie done to secure his comfort.”

“This morning’s incident should be in object-lesson to the people of Ne.v Zealand. It shows to what extreme - certain unreasoning and misguided non will go in order to assert wlu: obey erroneously believe to lie their rights. Every man in New Zealand das a right to follow a legitimate calling, and it has been, and it certainly anil be, the policy of the Government to see that in the exercise of tha: .fight he is properly protected. We ire quite determined to preserve oiler, and to insist upon obedience of the law. The hoodlum and the hooligan will get no sympathy from us. “Had there been two hundred policenon at Waihi,” Mr. Hordmnn went or. to remark, “the shooting of the constable could not have been averted, i have made it my business to see from the beginning of the trouble that a sufficient mimbor of men were in W.ii- ■ ii, and 1 am advised to-day that r.o more arc needed. Every day since -he trouble arose I have been in close communication with Waihi. Nothing is done but I know about it immediately, thanks to the zeal of the police others. Very little has been said by us about Diir plans or movements, because to ensure success it was’necessary ihvt everything should be done without fuss ■mcl without publicity. I am sorry that this morning’s proceedings should have again drawn public attention to a difficulty which i bad hoped would have been settled without further trouble.” “I believe that to-day’s incident will settle the Waihi trouble. There are men in this community who seem to he prepared to go to any length. The police are using, and will use, every reasonable and legitimate means to see that the law is properly carried out, and citizens and their property protected ,and you may depend upon it that the Government will give the police the best of assistance.”

1 ‘DASTARDLY OUTRAGE.’ ’ THE SOCTALIST-AXARCH IST ELEMENT. Auckland, November 12. “The whole coinimr.iifcy will ha deep - ly stirred hy the dastardly outrage at Waihi,” said the .Mayor <f Auckland to-day. “I am not surprised that it has come to bloodshed. Indeed, knowing something of the methods and doctrines of the Socialist-Anarchist elements in this country, it is remarkable that blood has not been shed eve now. It is a lesson to ns. All workers, toe vast majority of whom are good fel-

lows, must now realise the utter foolishness of following a few lawless agitators who fear neither God nor man.

“An awful respv .Anility rests upon these so-called -Labour leaders. It is they, and they alone, who have stirred up the men’s passions and caused the tragedy of to-day. 1 said six months ago, and .1 say again, that the Government must take steps to safeguard the peace oi the community from these irresponsible fcatherheads. Anarchy must be put down with a strong hand.”

AX OFFENSIVE MANIFESTO

NOT FIT FOR PUBLICATION

Wellington, November 14

A manifesto has been issued by Messrs. Webb, Semple, and Glover, on behalf of the Eederationists, giving their version of the recent events in Waihi, but it is of a nature - which does not lend itself to telegraphy. It contains accusations ot tneft, aspersions against the police and other people, and a number of similar statements which arc not covered by the law of libel.

The statement makes frequent use of the offensive term ‘‘scab.''

(‘New Zealand Times.’) ’1 lie discovery of revolve* s amongst die strikers indicates that the inllammatory advice of the strike leaders has been taken to heart, and it remains to be seen whether tne authorities will arrest the latter lor inciting this latest breach of the peace. Evans, who snot Constable Wade, was merely the dupe and delegate of those who mstigatea the feign of terror at A'aiiii. ft is indeed regrettable that lie snould have to pay so stern a penalty. It is a matter for sorrow, also, that a police constable should have ooeu stricken down in the execution J f his duty. This is the penalty which Society is obliged to pay for harbouring and permitting the fullest license tii Tree spaecn to its enemies. In tins country constitutional means are available for the workers to gain tne fullest measure of justice. Through the ml lot-box and with adult sullrage the door is open for all rational reforms. Those wno counsel revolution and anarchy are the enemies not only of tne workers whom they profess to champion, but of the whole community. It is sincerely to be hoped that the storm of conflict at Waihi will be succeeded by a quiet and* helpful period. Jhe indications are that ihe power of the Federation has been permanently impaired. In view of the objectlesson which lias just been provided, none but the most unintelligent workers will be coerced into believing that 1 the strike is a wbapon to be usea promiscuously at tiie instigation of any set of blatherskites and ignoramuses, or successfully under any circumstances whatsoever.