A HUMAN ROUND-UP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3671, 5 November 1912, Page 5

A HUMAN ROUND-UP.

POLICE CHARGE AT WAIHI. SEQUEL TO ORGANISED 108 GATHERING. VOLLEY OF ROTTEN EGGS FROM THE RIOTERS. MOST EXCITING INCIDENT OF THE STRIKE. [Li' TELEGE A PH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] WAIHI, Nov. 4. /The extreme aggressiveness of the Waihi strikers and. women on Saturday night was responsible for the most dramatic and exciting incident which has yet occurred during the progress of the strike, culminating in a combined charge by mounted and foot police, who dispersed a- mob of considerably over 500 men and women and successfully corralled them within the confines of the Miners’ Union Hall.

Early in the evening it could be seen that something unusual' was about to happen. Women and men flocked info th© town in great numbers, a large percentage carrying waddies or rude walking sticks. One woman was heard to exclaim that they would take charge of the town after the picture shows were out and that a trump card would then be played. What eventually transposed had the undoubted stamp of an organised move upon it, the “trump card” being highly flavored and well-seasoned eggs. About 7.30 p.m. a large number of women, the majority wheeling prams, paraded up and down opposite the Academy Theatre and every person (and there were many) who came under the ban of their condemnation had to run the gauntlet of insult and abuse before regaining the main entrance.

Screams of “scab,” “dirty mongrel,” and other invective merged into a perfect pandemonium. The police attempted to clear the way, but the militant band did not disperse. Ordinary courtesy and gentleness were useless. The women already had charge of the town and every man, woman, and child in the streets that night knew it. Things came to a head about 9.30 p.m.

It appears that Delaney (already well-known as one of the principal strike-breakers) was conversing with a friend (a woman) when the latter remarked “that the mob were not paying him much attention just then.” It appears that this remark was overheard. A picket- rushed over to the Miners’ Union Hall, . where a dance was in progress. An exodus from the building immediately took place with the result that within a few minutes a large hostile crowd advanced towards Delaney, the women screaming and hurling the usual Epithets and creating a great noise. Delaney proceeded up the street with the mob in attendance.

Senior Sergt.-McKinnon and Sergt. Murphy headed the crowd and stepped the advance at the corner of Rosemont Road. By this time the main street from one side to the other was blocked with people constituting the serried ranks of strikers and their women folks. Appeals made by the police to desist were fruitless, Previous to this a shrill whistle was blown, evidently as some sort of signal. 'lt was not a. police whistle. An interlude came when a man addressed the crowd of strikers. He said they were hooting and scabbing though beaten, and that all they were goo'u for was to annoy' sick women and innocent children. In the meantime Delaney kept on up the street - and Sergts. McKinnon and Murphy again interposed, holding the mob for a time by drawing a cordon of police across the street. It was at this juncture that the mounted constables formed up together wijh a force of foot police and as one living line they charged right up through the back of the ranks of the strikers, some of the mounted men meanwhile sweeping the main footpath. The mobilisation of the police took place with wonderful rapidity and the effect was electrical. Instantly there was a wild stampede like, a drove of frightened cattle. Alen and women rushed headlong onwards. No resistance was shown. Sticks were dropped and prams crashed into each other. The horse police charged right through the crowd and headed hack those In front and turning the entire mob towards the Union Hall. It was a human drive or round-up. No batons were used. Numbers of women and men completely lost their heads, running franticallv hither and thither, some crying out that the police were going to murder them. Gradually the police cordon closed in and the excited demonstrators were all forced into the hall. During the rush Air Semple was seen to vault over a fence into a yard adjoining the Hall and Air AA ebb was noticed making hurriedly for the same building. Numbers crashed through the fence, falling over each other, and. an eyewitness states that he distinctly saw men pushing women aside in their efforts to get into the hall,_ but no doubt this was done unthinkingly and under pressure of extreme excitement. So thick was the crowd that a block occurred at the door.

Before the police charged a. volley of rotten eggs was in evidence, and the police state that stones were also thrown. One of the militant women received a bad egg full in the face, the savour v missile being obviously intended for Delaney.