TENSE FEELING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 78, 2 April 1932, Page 9

TENSE FEELING.

DISORDERLY SCENES DE GROOT IN COURT. Fierce Clashes Between Police And New Guard. MANY ARRESTS MADE. (United l'.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, April 1. The appearance in the Central Police Court of Captain F. E. de Groot, who cut the ribbon at the opening of tho Sydney harbour bridge, was the occasion for disorderly scenes which culminated in clashes between the police and members of the New Guard and others.

Several thousand people had gathered in Liverpool Street, in the vicinity of the Court. The members of the New Guard had donned brown arm-bands. Almost immediately after the crowd had assembled squads of policemen appeared from the Court and from Pitt Street and pushed the people away from the entrance to the Court preparatory to Captain <le Groot's arrival. A few of the crowd exchanged blows with the police and in a general rush several- constables were knocked down and hurt. One man grabbed a policeman by the throat and is alleged to have attempted to choke him. The constable felled his assailant with a blow on the jaw. Detective MeDermott was kicked on the arms and legs. A sergeant was pushed in front of a moving car, but escaped injury. Another man struck an inspector in the face, but lie was promptly knocked out. Eventually the crowd was pushed back to Pitt and George Streets. Arm-Band Torn Off. When all the excitement apparently had passed Superintendent Maekay was walking down Liverpool Street when he met a New Guardsman wearing an armband. Mr. Mackay, saying: You have no right to wear that in a public street," tore the band from his arm. A constable then marched the man off the street. During the demonstration four young men were arrested and charged with riotous behaviour. According to the police three of them had New Guard tickets in their possession.

Alter tile exciting scenes outsiae mere was a tense atmosphere in the Court when the magistrate, Mr. J. W. M. Laidlaw, took his seat on the Bench. An early sensation occurred when two of tho spectators, one of whom was the secretary of the New Guard, Mr. Sutherland, were ordered out of Court. Captain de Groot was charged with damaging the ribbon on the bridge, with behaving in an offensive manner and with using threatening words to a police oflicer. He pleaded not guilty to the lirst charge and when the second was being read his counsel, Mr. Lamb, objected to the three being heard together. Captain de Groot Remanded. Sergeant Caban, for the prosecution, said he desired to proceed with the offensive behaviour charge first. This course was adopted and Captain de Groot was remanded. After the Court had adjourned thousands of people again gathered, but a large force of police allowed no one to enter Liverpool Street between Pitt and George Streets. The police escorted the leader of the New Guard, Colonel Eric Campbell, and Captain de Groot to a car and lined the running boards. Another demonstration followed, as a result of which six more arrests were made. Subsequently the 10 men who had been arrested appeared before Mr. H. H. MacDougal, S.M. Five were fined sums ranging from 10/ to 30/, and the five others were remanded.