*THE
WORKER*
Brisbane
September 8, 1894
COERCION
IN QUEENSLAND.
Drastic
Government Proposals.
“Buckshot”
Tozer To The Front.
Introduction
of a measure to force bushmen to accept squatters terms, by
imprisoning as “suspect” all who are thought to have influence in
keeping unionists together.
For
some time past the capitalistic newspapers in this city have
persistently agitated for the introduction of repressive legislation
for the suppression of lawlessness in connection with the present
unfortunate difficulty in the Queensland pastoral industry. The
agitation has been more especially directed at those who are honestly
and legitimately – so far as modern enactments permit – trying to
improve the condition of the workers generally, more particularly
those who are immediately concerned in the present difficulty, and
whose social position is admitted by the Courier to
be a most deplorable and unenviable one. Last week, as a result of
this agitation, we had a ghastly official announcement sent out to
the magistracy in the shape of the now famous Tozerian Manual. On
Thursday last we had the introduction in Parliament of “A bill for
the better preservation of peace in disturbed districts.” Whether
this will become law depends upon the Labour Party.
When the Assembly had disposed of a quantity of formal
business Nelson, at the instigation of the Colonial Secretary, who
will hereafter be better known as “Buckshot Tozer,” moved for
leave to introduce the bill just mentioned. This being a measure of a
most unusual character it was only reasonable to expect that the
Premier would give some very substantial reasons for its
introduction. But no statement whatever was made by the Premier when
moving the resolution. The Leader of the Labour Party (Thomas
Glassey) proved himself quite equal to the exigencies of the
situation. Burning with a sense of righteous indignation at this
unwarranted conduct of the Government in the matter, indignation
which was intensified by the sneers and jeers of the fat and sleeky
occupants of the benches on the Government side, Burke's
representative stated that there was at the disposal of the
maintenance of law and order without the introduction of special
legislation of the character he anticipated. In his opinion measure
of a healing nature would have a much more beneficial effect than
those of a coercive nature. But it is characteristic of the class of
people the Government and their supporters especially represent, who,
said Glassey are more responsible for the disturbances that have
taken place than any other action of the community.
The Government had a large and very docile set of
followers at the present time, but Glassey warned them not to be too
“cocky.” The time might come – and come sooner than they
expected, too – when the hilarity in which hon, members were
indulging would be reversed. His emphatically intimated to the House
that the Labour Party would do its utmost to prevent the passage of
unnecessarily drastic legislation, and asked some explanation from
the Premier for the course he was now pursuing. Nelson, who treated
the subject in as jocular a manner as it ought to have been serious,
quite sarcastically expressed the opinion that any member would
oppose his motion “for leave to introduce a bill for the better
preservation of peace in disturbed districts.” If leave was granted
to introduce the measure, he promised the House that within the
spaces of half an hour afterwards hon. Members would be placed in
possession of copies and they could then see for themselves what it
was without any explanation from him. The motion was put and the
House divided:
FOR
, 48
| Nelson | Philip | Byrnes | Barlow |
| Fisher | Ozden | Wilkinson | Aunear |
| Powers | Groom | Kingsbury | Drake |
| Watson | Midson | Smith R.H. | Petrie |
| Tooth | Dalrymple | Cribb | Morgan |
| Bell | Holes | McMaster | Thorn |
| Hamilton | Stephens | Crombie | Agnew |
| Corfield | Stevens E.J. | Phillips | Leahy |
| Grimes | Thomas | Armstrong | Archer |
| Foxton | Cameron | Thorn W. | Plunkett |
| Harding | Calan | Fogarty |
AGAINST,
11
Glassey
|
McDonald
|
Hardacre
|
Kerr
|
Turley
|
Reid
|
Cross
|
King
|
Rawlings
|
Dawson
|
Dunsford
|
Messers. Daniels, Browne, and Jackson declined to vote.
The “Coercion” Bill was then read a first time,
ordered to be printed, and its second reading made an order of the
day for Thursday. Shortly afterwards copies were handed to members,
when it was seen that the member for Burke was quite correct in his
anticipations regarding the very drastic nature of the measure. To
put it briefly it is an embodiment of “Buchshot” Foster's famous
Irish Coercion Acts of 1881 - “Protection of Persons Property Act”
and “ Peace Preservation Act” - with the penalties in one
instances at least double. The bill, which we hope Labour members
will fight to the bitter end, gives the Colonial Secretary and his
minions power to imprison for six months WITHOUT TRIAL, any person
who is SUSPECTED BY Tozer and Co. of having at any time since July1
been guilty of any crime punishable by law such to violence or
intimidation, or tending to interfere with or disturb the maintenance
of law and order, also any person who is SUSPECTED by Tozer of having
been guilty as accessory – that is to say one who incites,
encourages, or intimidation, or tending to interfere with or disturb
the maintenance of law and order.
The Act is to apply to certain districts proclaimed by
the Governor, but Tozer and Co. may arrest in any part of the colony
of Queensland.
“In a proclaimed district no person shall carry or
have any arms or ammunition (cannon, gun, rifle, revolver,
nitro-glycerine, dynamite, gun-cotton, and any other explosive
substances) save as authorised by the conditions in the Proclamation
herein before mentioned. Any person carrying or having, or reasonably
suspected of carrying or having, any arms or ammunition in
contravention of the Act, may be arrested without warrant, by any
constable or peace officer, and as soon as reasonably can be conveyed
before some Justice of the Peace in order to be dealt with according
to law.” - Clause 5.
“Any
person acting in contravention of this Act shall be liable if
convicted before any two Justices of the Peace” (no jury) “to be
imprisoned for a term not exceeding six months, or, at the discretion
of the court, to a penalty not exceeding £100.”
- Clause 15.
Provision is made in the Act for a certain statement to be made to Parliament should a member of either the Upper or Lower House be arrested under this Act, which indicates that Tozer has his eye on one or more of the Labour members. An important clause in the bill provides that “when a sworn information has been made that any indictable offence or any offence punishable on summary conviction has been committed in a proclaimed district, and district magistrate may if he so think fit, although no person may be charged before him with the commission of such offence, sit at any place within the petty sessions district in which the said offence has been committed and examine on oath concerning such offence any person whom he has reason to believe to be capable of giving material evidence concerning such offence, and shall take the depositions of such witness, and if he show cause may bind such witness by his own recognisance to appear and give such evidence if called upon within the date of such recognisance.”
“No person shall be admitted to be present at any such
inquiry except by special permission of the magistrate holding the
same.” This virtually provides Queensland “Star Chambers.”
“A witness examined under this Act shall not be
excused from answering any question on the ground that the answer
thereto may criminate or tend to criminate himself.
* * *
Shakespeare says:
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
The tide of the Labour Party is now at its flood. Let
them take it. They are to the Queensland Labour movement at the
present juncture what the Parnellit Party was to the Home Rule
movement in Ireland in 1881. They should act accordingly.
A joint meeting of the Labour Party and Opposition will
be held to consider what action is to be taken regarding Buchshot
Tozer's Coercion Bill.
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