UGLY INCIDENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1925, Page 7

UGLY INCIDENTS.

FEELING RUNS HIGH AT CAIRNS. FOREIGNER NEARLY" LYNCHED. M Brisbane, Nov. 3. A party or 650 farmers and cajie-cut-ters- arrived at Cairns pledged to assist in loading and coaling the vessels. The watersidem refuse to work, except under the rotary' system, although a secret ballot overwhelmingly favoured the resumption, of 'work under' present conditions. For weeks the produee has been accumulating on the wharves, and further storage space for sugar is unprocurable. The farmers will attend at the wharves to-day. The chairman of the transport strike committee in Brisbane announced that the committee had agreed to supply sufficient coal to the Port Hardy to enable the refrigerators to be worked. The arrival of the farmers at Cairns delivered a smashing blow to the Coinmunists, who were attempting to force the hands of the local branch of the Watersiders’ Federation and hold Up produce in the districts valued at over a million sterling. Many ugly incidents occurred during the day, but there were no serious casualties. Many extremists were forced to flee from the town, and others were locked up in gaol to save them from serious injury. While a large body of farmers was assembling near the wharf a iorelgner who was prominent in strike matteis brandished a revolver." The prompt action of the police prevented a possible lynching. The man was removed to the lock-up and closely guarded by the police. Before the end of the day 80 water siders, free from* the intimidating tactics of extremists, commenced work. The president of the local branch of the watersiders, who was prominently associated with the hostile attitude towards the farmers, openly challenged them to fight. The farmers searched, for him and found him at home, where lie tendered a written apology and resigned as president of the federation.