READING OF RICT ACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 14

READING OF RICT ACT.

WAIHI INCIDENT RECALLED

J.P. CHASED BY A CROWD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) HvAIHI, Tuesday. Discussing the question as to when and where the Riot Act has been read in the Dominion, the Wellington "Evening Post" stated recently that a high police official said that he had an impression, though he was not positive, that the Act was read during the Waihi strike of 1012. The impression of the police official is certainly wrong, because ■the Act was not read at any time during that strike.

An attempt to read the proclamation was, however, made in April, 190."), by the late Mr. Max D. King, who was a justice of the peace and secretary of the Hospital Board at that time. A serious disturbance developed when a man was being arrested by the police. The inan was handcuffed, and a mob, clamouring for his release, followed the police down Seddon Street.

Xear the corner of Haszard Street a volley of road metal greeted the police, Constables Woodley and Clarke being struck in several places. The prisoner escaped, but was later arrested near Xewdick's Building, in the main street, by the late Sergeant Sheehan, who had retired to the police station and came out armed with a revolver.

During the height of the disturbance Mr. King mounted a box near where ■the Seddon Memorial now stands, and commenced to read the Riot Act proclamation. He was not allowed to proceed, however. The crowd swept him and the box away, and he was chased down the street, receiving blows on the bodv and face.

The Act was read in Christchurch over 30 years ago by the late Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., on the occasion of a disturbance connected with a church conducted by a man named Worth ington, and known ae the Temple of Truth.