THE STRIKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 75, 28 November 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

AT WELLINGTON.

STRIKE LEADERS IN COURT. ALLEGED INCITING TO VIOLENCE [Per Press Association.] Wellington, November 28. The first of the cases against the strike leaders commenced to-day. The Court was again crowded. Specials guarded both inside and outside, as well as all approaches to the buildings. There was a stir in the Court when William Thomas Young wa# called. He was charged with inciting persons to resist the police.

Mr Ostler appeared for the Crown and Mr Wilford and Mr O’Regan for the defence.

in his opening address, Mr Ostler said it seemed to be the opinion that Young, was arrested because he was the leader of the strike. Nothing could be more absurd. Everybody was within his rights in being the leader of a strike. On the other hand, everybody had a right to work. The speech accused was charged with took place on October 26. Both before and after the date there were scenes of violence and rioting in Wellington. Owing to that, the Government took steps to regain command of the streets and it was in that connection that aicoused uttered the, words charged against him. To every fair-thinking man, and according to law, an inciter to violence was worse than the man who actually committed the deed.

He proceeded to call evidence. Among the witnesses called were Karens Plumber, reporter on the Dominion, and Leo. Fanning, reporter on the Evening Post, and Charles Redman, reporter on the New Zealand Times, all of whom gave evidence regarding the words used by Young as mentioned in the charge. Sergeant James Henry described the rush on the Taviuni on the 24th October, thus indicating the state of disorder prior to defendant’s speech at the Basin Reserve. Witness also described, the trouble in Post Office Square on 30th October, when he heard shots fired. Other evidence of a similar nature was given, and the case for the Crown closed.

AT THE WELLINGTON WHARVES

THE NEW WATERSIDERS.

Wellington, November 28. Twenty steamers are working cargo on the wharves to-day. More labor could be. utilised. The membership of the new watersiders’ union is now 1540. TRAM CONDUCTOR IN DISGRACE. INSULTING CONDUCT. Wellington, November 21. In the/Magistrate’s ourt to-day a tram conductor named Herlihy was fined £3 with the alternative of fourteen days’ imprisonment on each of two charges of using insulting language in a tram car and assaulting a passenger.

The evidence showed that accused was overheard by a passenger relating how he had refused a special (giving an offensive term) a passage on ins car. The passenger remonstrated with the conductor, who retorted that if the second passenger did not mind his own business he would ho treated in the same manijer. Further words passed, and accused seized hold of the passenger. Another man on the car intervened and persuaded the conductor to desist. As the passenger was leaving the car the conductor said insulting language.

For. driving his motor car in a dangerous way by sending it into a troop of special constables Harry Hill was fined-£3 with the alternative of fourteen days’ imprisonment.

AT AUCKLAND.

THE AUCKLAND W ATE RSI D E RS. - ' < STATE OF THEIR FINANCE. Auckland, November 28. A meeting of the Watersiders’ Union last night was attended by 401) out of 480 members. It was stated only 28 men had deserted the 1 nion. The chairman stated that arrangements wore being made to call out all the seamen on the vessels trading between New Zealand and Australia, and the Pacific Slope.’

SeVeral speakers announced that they were nearing the end oi their financial resources, hut urged fellow members to see the trouble through. It was also stated that several seamen who had left vessels were seeking financial assistance. ° The treasurer stated that though strike funds wen* coining in fairly, it would he necessary to reduce the strike pay from 15s 6d to 1 Is Gd per week.

AS OTHERS SEE US.

A RED FED FABLE.

MR PARRY IN SYDNEY.

“SMASHING UNIONISM.”

“WOODEN-BLOCK” PREMIER

[By Electric Tuleguaph— Copyright] [United Press Association.l (Received 9.50 a.in.) Sydney, November 2bk Mr Parry, representing the New Zealand Federation of Labor, addressed the Sydney Labor Council yestei-

day. He said the coal minors and watersidera had been forced into the dispute. For two years employers had been raising money for the purpose of smashing unionism by means of bogus unions. After the present dispute began, the men stated their, willingness to negotiate with the employers, but when they met the Employers’ Federation, the men found that the Premier (Mr Massey) was on the side of the employers. They might just as well have a wooden block for a Premier. They had been promised that the. special constables would; not be allowed to promenade, while the parties wore, negotiating, but on | the first night of the conference, thej .specials wore shooting down unionists! in the street, in the attempt, as they; believed, to intimidate tho union representatives Mr Massey had evidently decided in favour of the employers’ federation before the conference| was. held. The employers had taken; up the atitude that though they could organise in any manner they desired that tJie workers should not be permitted to do so. Two delegates interviewed lie coalminers and trimmers at Newcastle tonight. THE MAHENO SAILS. _i (Received 10.20 a.m.) Sydney, November 28. 'flie Maheno sailed at one o’clock this morning for Auckland.

ANXIETY AT DARLING HARBOR

RAILWAYMEN AND ‘‘BLACK’’

CARGO. Sydney, November 28. The general secretary of the Amalgamated Tramway and Railway Servants’ Association says there is considerable anxiety among members of the association at Darling Harbor regarding the possible extension of the New Zealand strike to the Darling Harbor goods yards. A shipment of •fruit from New Zealand is expected to-day but there is no evidence whether it was handled by non-unionists or not. The railway men are determined not to unload anything declared

“black.” He warned them not to act on their own initiative, hut to consult the executive.

JOTTINGS. Constable McGowan, who had been' for some time on duty in Wellington in connection with the strike, returned to Stratford last night.