THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 128, 17 October 1912, Page 4

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

NEWSPAPER EDITOR THREATENED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Waihi, Wednesday. Mr. Mcßobie, proprietor of the 'local newspaper yesterday received the following letter:— "You dirty, black, trimmed whiskered mongrel,, if you don't alter your hostile tactics towards the Waihi Miners' Union in your leading articles of your dirty gutter-snipe rag, I inform you candidly I have 250 plugs of gelignite, 100 detonators and six coils of fuse,, and you shall swallow some if you keep at the rate you ai-e going. Now, McRobie, I have iwarned you, so beware. I am in earnest.—Only a striker."

THE ASSAULT CASE. Waihi, Wednesday. The hearing of tilie assault case' was resumed this morning. At the conclusion of the evidence of Bernice Heath, the Magistrate made some strong comments on the followingup and "scabbing" tactics. He pointed out tliat the law was made for everybody, and everybody had a right to walk the public streets free from molestation and annoyance. The law did not stop men from striking, and at the same time did not stop men from working. He urged that it was not womanly to break the law m the manner it had been broken. The Magistrate's final appeal was Tou won't go on with this sort of business again?" Witness replied: "I will not." Waihi, Last Night. further evidence was adduced in the charge of assault preferred against De-

Alma Gregory, aged ten, a step-sister oi the complainant, and Mona Gregory aged 13, gave evidence corroborative of that of the previous witness. Gundgi Frederick Neil, a striker on picket duty, said that he saw Delaney grab Jessie Beames by the shoulders. He considered that she was handled roughly, and interfered. A scuffle ensued, during which blows were exchanged. While struggling on the ground another man pulled Delaney off. Both the girl and Delaney had appeared to bo angry. He did not think he did anything to cause a fight, beyond interfering between Delaney and the girl. Under cross-examination by Mr. Cotter, witness said that a picket's duties were to try and persuade the men not to go to work, and there had to be persistent "booing" as part of the tactics: In answer to further questions, witness said that it was not a small ooterie of men who were practising these tactics. There was a large organisation. Witness was not working, but at the same time he was not loafing. He said he had a right to "boo" at men going to work while a strike was on. Ho used the term "scab" to show his disapproval. He could go back to work if he liked. He intended to pursue these tactics, and did not consider them unlawful. If he was convinced these tactics were unlawful, asked counsel, would witness continue them? Witness said that he would not be prepared to discontinue them until compelled to do so. Witness was not aware that women were put to the front to use the term "scab," leaving the men practically in the background, behind the skirts of th« females. He attended the demonstration against the workers on Tuesday afternoon, but would not, be prepared to say whether women or men predominated in "booing" and calling out "scab." Pickets were not instructed to indulge in "booing." All they were told to do was to meet the workers and try and persuade them that they were doing wrong. Nevertheless he had taken part in "booing" at a demonstration. Describing the alleged assault, witness said that he did not see Beames pick up a stone Under similar circumstances he would have acted as Delaney had. and prevented the woman from throwing the stone. His interference with Delaney had been the pause of a rough and 'tumble. At the time he was not aware that Delaney was preventing Beames from throwing a stone. The Magistrate, addressing witness, reminded him that it was against the law to use offensive terms to people in the public streets. The law was quite clear on the point. The law was made for the good of everybody. The same law that punished was the same law that protected. William Dare, the next witness, said that he was on picket duty in the vicinity of the nlleged assault. His duty was to' try to convert workers. He had given up the conversion of Delaney. The latter was a "scab." and lie would continue to call him a "scab." Witness saw Delaney attempt to kick complainant, and afterwards saw Neil and Delaney struggling. Both fell, and witness picked up Delaney and advised him to go home. Under cross-examination, witness took strong exception to Mr. Cotter calling him a loafer. Men had no right to go to work while a strike was on. The Court adjourned until to-morrow morning.