Fred Evans (union worker)
Encyclopedia
Fredrick George Evans was an Australian
industrial worker who rose to prominence for his role and death in the Waihi miners' strike
. To date he is one of the only two people to die in an industrial dispute in New Zealand
's history.
in 1881 Evans lived in his native Australia until 1909 when he moved to New Zealand with his wife and two children. After three years living in New Zealand Evans found a job as a stationary engine
driver at the Waihi
goldmine. It was here that his trade union
activity was to bring him to public attention.
On 12 November, known as "Black Tuesday", a group of armed non-union workers and police attacked the union hall, which was defended by a small group of union workers (also armed). Thomas Johnston, a non-union worker was shot in the knee, and a police constable was shot in the stomach. The shots are believed to have been fired by Evans who was then beaten to the ground by Constable Gerald Wade and trampled by the men running through the hall. Evans was left for an hour and a half in police cells before being taken to hospital. He never regained consciousness and died the following day. Wade was found to have been "fully justified in striking deceased down".
at Waikaraka cemetery on November 17, where thousands of mourners lined the streets. May Evans was given £1100 which had been raised by unionists in order to assist her and her children. Evans was later held by the hardliners up as a hero and a martyr, with Bob Semple
saying that Evans had been "doing his duty and should have shot more of them".
Australian people
Australian people, or simply Australians, are the citizens of Australia. Australia is a multi-ethnic nation, and therefore the term "Australian" is not a racial identifier. Aside from the Indigenous Australian population, nearly all Australians or their ancestors immigrated within the past 230 years...
industrial worker who rose to prominence for his role and death in the Waihi miners' strike
Waihi miners' strike
The Waihi miners' strike was a major strike action in 1912 by gold miners in the New Zealand town of Waihi. It is widely regarded as the most significant industrial action in the history of New Zealand's labour movement...
. To date he is one of the only two people to die in an industrial dispute in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's history.
Early life
Born in Ballarat, VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1881 Evans lived in his native Australia until 1909 when he moved to New Zealand with his wife and two children. After three years living in New Zealand Evans found a job as a stationary engine
Stationary engine
A stationary engine is an engine whose framework does not move. It is normally used not to propel a vehicle but to drive a piece of immobile equipment such as a pump or power tool. They may be powered by steam; or oil-burning or internal combustion engines....
driver at the Waihi
Waihi
Waihi is a town in Hauraki District in the North Island of New Zealand, especially notable for its history as a gold mine town. It had a population of 4,503 at the 2006 census....
goldmine. It was here that his trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
activity was to bring him to public attention.
Waihi Trade Union
Evans was a member of the Waihi Trade Union, affiliated with the militant New Zealand Federation of Labour and in opposition to Evans' employer the Waihi Goldmine Company. In May 1912, a number of stationary engine drivers who rejected the Federation of Labour's strong positions established a breakaway union. Although the Waihi Goldmining Company claimed to have no involvement in the breakaway union, saying that it was a matter of union politics, many workers believed that the Company was attempting to split the union, and called a strike. Evans refused to join the new stationary engine drivers union and worked as a provision storekeeper and newspaper contributor for the Waihi Trade Union.On 12 November, known as "Black Tuesday", a group of armed non-union workers and police attacked the union hall, which was defended by a small group of union workers (also armed). Thomas Johnston, a non-union worker was shot in the knee, and a police constable was shot in the stomach. The shots are believed to have been fired by Evans who was then beaten to the ground by Constable Gerald Wade and trampled by the men running through the hall. Evans was left for an hour and a half in police cells before being taken to hospital. He never regained consciousness and died the following day. Wade was found to have been "fully justified in striking deceased down".
Funeral and legacy
The Federation of Labour organised a funeral in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
at Waikaraka cemetery on November 17, where thousands of mourners lined the streets. May Evans was given £1100 which had been raised by unionists in order to assist her and her children. Evans was later held by the hardliners up as a hero and a martyr, with Bob Semple
Bob Semple
Robert "Bob" Semple was a union leader and later Minister of Public Works for the first Labour Government of New Zealand....
saying that Evans had been "doing his duty and should have shot more of them".