MOB SABOTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 97, 26 April 1932, Page 3

MOB SABOTAGE.

LESSON OF THE RIOTS. SYDNEY BRIDGE INCIDENT. A MISSIONER'S COMMENT. "An alarming feature in connection with the recent rioting in Auckland was the fact that the bulk of the crowd was swayed in its feelings against the forces of law and order," said the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, of the Auckland Social Service Mission, in an address on Sunday evening.

As an observer of the actual rioting, he had no hesitation in saying that the cause of the window-smashing was the unrestrained hooligan clement. Following that wanton damage, the opportunities for theft provided temptation for the wrongdoer. To the thoughtful observer, that was the disastrous and costly outcome of a regrettable social episode. The features of such social discord should be subjected to serious thought by every worthy citizen. The most staggering disclosure to every person was the fact that the New Zealander, hitherto regarded as a model of rectitude in social conduct, should have provided for the whole world ail example of mob sabotage to a reprehensible degree. It would appear that twenty irresponsible youths in twenty minutes could give people cause to re-orient their ideas with regard to the New Zealander's psychology, said Mr. Scrimgeour. This was certainly not the case. The forces operating were those curious manifestations of mob psychology which for a short time overwhelmed the New Zealander's innate sense of social responsibility. In all crowds it was recognised that there were three main sections— one class devoted loyally to authority, one opposing class naturally averse to responsible behaviour, and between those two the great bulk of neutral members, influenced in their outlook in varying degrees by the two opposing sections. A curious factor brought to light by the recent disturbances in Auckland was the manner in which a section of the community commended an act of lawlessness which occurred in another country, and yet became frightfully alarmed when a similar though aggravated instance should happen in our city, continued Mr. Scrimgeour. Since the opening of the Sydney Bridge many papers had been filled with stories commending the action of one Captain de Groot. That man not only disgraced his uniform and earned the disapproval of every right-thinking citizen, but was convicted by the Court for an act of wanton lawlessness —yet in the eyes of some of the community, who were alarmed by the rccent Auckland riots, he was held up as the hero of the hour.