ORGY OF WINDOW SMASHING.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 12

ORGY OF WINDOW SMASHING.

the vandals and the pursuing police. They were sobered and concerned by the evidence of the destruction let looso as a result of the way they had chosen to air their grievnuccs. - Deputation to Minister. Early in the iifternoon an assembly of ncarlv 3000 ppo|)le at the Basin Reserve were informed by their leaders that the relief workers' sfrike had been extended to practical!v oveiv City and suburban job. Made bold by their numbers, the crowd decided io inarch to Parliament House, and a procession was formed up. Wares Removed from Windows. No damage was done in Lower Manners street, Courtenay place, or in Cuba street. Many shopkeepers, anticipating trouble, had removed their wnres frnm t.linir windows. The appearance of squads of special constables met with a mixed reception. Onlookers took hides, some calling out "scabs" and booing, while others maintained an air of quiet approval. Loitering was 'iot allowed. The police constables patrolling the areas kept the public on the move. When a squad of mounted police passed up Cuba street about 6.30 p.m. there were some hoots from a group of roving youths who appeared to be on a tour "of inspection. A would-be .-tone-thrower at the corner of Cuba and Vivian strrets made the mistake of trying to do a little damage within sight of a police sergeant. His attempt was short-hved and a quick arrest resulted in his being sent to the police station in a taxi. Three Arrests. The attempt of three demonstrators to smash a window in Martin's Shoo Store, at the corner of Willis and Mauners streets, was frustrated by some policemen, who quickly overpowered them, and without ceremony bundled them into the rear of a private car, whieh was parked nearby. If the win-dow-smashers got a shock, it was nothing compared with that which the driver of the ear and his two women passengers received. They were interestedly watching the march past of the special constables and tho nest thing they knew was that the men had been flung on to the back seat of the car and a policeman was parked on eaeh running-board. The driver soon realised what had happened and promptly headed for the nearest police station. No Distinction Made. From 7 o'clock onwards the streets ■w«re thronged by curious crowds, who viewed the long trail of damage. The condition of affairs in Lambton quay, Willis street, and Manners street gave conclusive evidence of the speed with whieh the raid was carried out. No distinction had been made, and no class, of shop had escaped. Even the windows of empty shops had been bombarded. Apparently a single missile served for each attempt, and if it failed the next* shop-front received attention. Usually the broken glass wont into the shop with the missile, but in many eases the windows were broken and ruined without the dislodgment of the glass. Many windows bore evidence of having been strnck by soft, wet objects, probably fruit seized from Hindu barrows which failed to penetrate. There is little evidence of pillaging. Sueh thefts as were committed must have been of the* smash and grab type. Streets Patrolled. The streets were patrolled during the night by regular police and specials, who closed some of the principal promenades. A Strange Advance. The wide, defenceless, and half-de-serted Lambton quay, gave an invitation the minority could hardly resist. The speeches were listened to with growing impatience. As the cry "Up the town! , Up the town! " became more insistent at 5.50 p.m., irresponsibles began to move. Twenty or more of the boldest of them were in the van and the erowd turned on its heel to flow ■lowly after them It was a strange advance, undetermined at first, but it breasted the quay and led straight to trouble. Bystanders were anxious and dismayed.

The First Incident. The first incident was tho upsetting of a Hindu's fruit barrow, that stood in the quay on the western side near the Bowen building. Part of the main wrecking party, which consisted all through of about 20 or 25 men, some young and mostly well-dressed, advanced on the barrow and tipped it over. The fruit, tumbled to the pavement and the road and it was picked up in handfuls for use as missiles. Men fell on it liko a pack of wolves. A Mobile Force. From the fruit barrow possibly came the small length of four by two, that broke the first window, that of a leather and bag shop. The tinkle of glass acted like magic A moment later a lemonade'bottle was hurled at another r window, and an orgy of window-break-ing began. Missiles and weapons for the -work came to light very.quickly. • The smashing party was. small and mobile. The police had been left behind at Parliament gates, where there was still something of V crowd rerdainingj It was the absence of the police in the initial stages that enabled the wreckers to progress so rapidly. i Cars Overturned. The sound of splintering plate glass and toe noise of windows falling to pieces were, more frequent in the lower part of Lambton quay than anywhere else on tht» journey, but while this was going on a crowd of men sur-; rounded an empty motor-car standing at the kerb outside the Occidental Hotel. They heaved at it and turned it over on its side, where it remained between the kerb and the eastern Bet of tramlines Another car stood a few yards away. It. too, was turned over, this time with a bump that must have damaged it. Car windows were broken also at this early stage of the proceedings, although attention was paid later only to shop windows. Occupants ot premises, guests at hotels, and chance. arrivals in the city who had come by side streets, watched from the flank. . It was an extraordinary scent. , Drapery Stores Attacked. At about this point the second fruit barrow had provided further ammunition. On the other side of .the, road, from the barrow, a little ahead of it, urns. Kirkealdie and Stains' drapery, establishment, with its long .line of large plate glass.windows -reaching the lensrth of the block. The wreckers were: suddenly aware of it. They abandoned the. side they' had so far principally dnmaeed. nnd rushed across the .road to Kirkealdie's. Nine or ten immense window? were broken in : quick succes-, sion. The D.I.C came next, but al-; .. thoueb it afforded equal opportunities,! onlv three oi four of its windows; were, Clash with Police. ,- '. ! sfhen the crowd was at Grey 6treet,: w* far-past the D.I.C. the police; arrived- in ! tw<»fat the'double. They! tan on ahpiid with batons look-' ing for iaihfac!bosm Suddenly a handful,of them dartef'back. There was, a scuffle, and a inan was batoned aud overcome in the centre of the quay. , Grey street was the see.no.of the, first real clash, but the police meant business, and they had little work to do.

A well known woman Communist figured in tho scene. Two men, knocked down in a rush, lay in the centre of the road opposite Whitcombe and Tombs. Further police arrived from time to time, but they met with no active resistance. At the Willis street intersection a large number of special constables inarched into position and blocked the road, standing in lines across the width of Willis street. The crowd could no longer move forward as it had, but meanwhile the wreckers had been well ahead and were doing their work in Willis street itself. Shopkeepers and business people knew of their approach only a minute or two beforehand. Some began to remove stocks from their windows. "Post" Untouched. The offices of the "Evening Post" were passed by inconsequentially. One of the wreckers thought better of it, however, and returned. He lifted up a wall bill-board and hurled it at the large front window, but his aim. was not good, and the window was undamaged. A neighbouring butcher's shop was badly damaged, and considerably despoiled. Theft from Pawnbrokers. Opposite it a pawnbroker's windows were also smashed, and a large amount of stock taken. Aided by special constables, who appeared in large numbers at various points, the police had control of the situation. ■As soon as they were properly on the job there were a number of street arrests and the wreckers were checked completely at the intersection of Manners street and Cuba street. Window damage was worst in the lower half of Lambton quay. Looting, which might have been extensive, occurred infrequently, and for the most part in Willis street. Twenty-one Arrests. Scant attention was paid to Manners street, although a tailor's shop was rather severely damaged. At 7 o'clock the main streets were being emptied. Stocks were being removed from shop windows, protections were being put : up, and there was a sound of hammering here and there inside business premises. Police and a large number of special constables were at their posts, and only the damage and aftermath of the excitement remained. The arrests are already reported to total twenty-one. RELIEF WORKS. PAY AND CONDITIONS. STRIKE AGAINST NEW SCHEME. (PRESS ASSOCIATION. TZLEGEAM \ WELLINGTON, May 10.. Long before mid : day to-day it became apparent that a relief workers' strike of serious dimensions was unavoidable. A last-minute effort to induce the men to return to work was made by Mr J. I. Goldsmith, chairman of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee, but the refusal of the Unemployment Board to agree to the men's demands ended any prospect of the jobs being continued. ./ ; Shortly after 9 a.m. a crowd of about 1200 assembled at the Basin Reserve. The majority of the'.,men seemed uncertain as to their position and waited about until their leaders saw fit to make an: announcement. After some delay the'representative of the Hataitai relief workers, Mr J. Atkinson, addressed the assembly, and stated. that the nieeting hadb'een called as a result of the'decision to strike, made on the' previous day. .;•■;.

Grounds for Complaint. Eorty delegates, formed up and proceeded to the Buckle street bureau. At the bureau Mr Goldsmith consented to address the men.. He made it clear he had not asked the deputation, to meet him. Earlier;- that morning, Ke said, he had' met a number of relief workers and had informed them that if they returned to work he would receive a deputation from them and do what ho could on their behalf. "That is the position now," he continued. "While you proceed in this unconstitutional way, I will not discuss the position with you. We want to do what we can for you, and I agree that you have grounds for complaint, but yon must go back to work before we will do anything." He concluded by promising the delegates that they would not lose time that day and assuring them that he was; in favour of their time for the previous day being made up. The deputation returned to the mass meeting at 10.30 a.m. in the Basin Ra ; serve, and Mr Atkinson informed the crowd of Mr Goldsmith's attitude. It was obvious that a large section .was prepared to respond to the appeal, but militant speakers, including one wellknown Communist, talked the modorr ates into submission. It was decided to adjourn the meeting until 2 p.m., in anticipation of the promised statement by the Unemployment Board. . The meeting then adjourned, and the dele; gates left for the various* relief jobq to induce those who were still working to come out on strike.

Statement by Unemployment Board.; Shortly before 2 ; p.m. the following statement was issued by the Unemployr .ment Board:— "The Board has fully considered the representations made by the deputation of fifteen delegates from fourteen relief •works about Wellington who wanted the restoration of the old scale, with the stand-down week and recourse to tho Hospital Board for sustenance relief. "The Unemployment Board , is immediately concerned only with the relief which it can provide out of its own funds. The new scale of weekly payrates without a stand-down week is more costly to the Board to the extent , of £BOOO a week in respect of the four main centres and contiguous oughs, and therefore must .confer greater benefit on the men unemployed. "The Bdard regrets that it cannot see its way to comply with the request of the deputation, and therefore the new scale must stand." Clamour for Demonstration. When the strikers and single unemployed men, together with a generous sprinkling of women; gathered at the Basin Reserve in the, afternoon * they" were upwards' of 2500' strong.. It was announced, amid cheering, that practically all the remaining workers had gone oh strike at midday, and werri marching toward the, City. The ,deeii sion of the Unemployment Board 1 was; announced, and the militant- section of the crowd began a clamour for a demon-; stration. • ; Mr Atkinson,, who was :still. acting as chairman of the mass meeting* said he; had received a letter from the.-Mayor. (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) inviting a deputa-; tion-froni- the relief workers to meetj him attd Mr Goldsiijith aiC'the office,.off the Board at t •p.p.,' af ter-which. the; yiewß ofvtlie strikers would -be passed! on to the Minister. The speakers who followed the chairman would have nothing to do with the

Mayor's proposal, but urged a demonstration at Parliament House. This idea was accepted enthusiastically, and the crowd began to form into a long column of fours. Appeal by Leaders. By this time it numbered anything up to 3000 people, and the less militant leaders, clearly taken aback by the size of the snowball they had been rolling so industriously throughout the morning, made vociferous 'appeals for calmness and unity. A strong detachment of police appeared at the main gates of the Eeserve, when the march began, The front ranks were halted by Inspector Lander, who was in charge of the police. He talked to the leaders and the word was passed round that the Minister for Employment would receive a deputation and the strikers changed their minds, deciding to march direct to Parliament House rather than call on the Mayor and Mr Goldsmith. They agreed to follow a route arranged by the police. MINISTER'S ULTIMATUM. NO STATEMENT TILL WOfek IS RESUMED. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAH.) WELLINGTON, May 10. In view of the serious disturbances which occurred in the City this evening, Mr Coatcs refuses to make a comprehensive statement regarding the requests of relief work strikers for an improvement in the new rates of pay and conditions until all work has been resumed. Makii.g this clear at midnight, Mr Coates said the Mayor of Wellington and members of the Wellington Unemployment Committee had conferred with him to-day on questions affecting the relief workers and the change-over from the old No. 5 Scheme to the new. The interviewers had stated that as a result of the change many of those receiving relief would be in a less favourable position than previously. Ho had indicated that he would go into tli9 question at once, with a view to ascertaining whether the new organisation was complete as far as Wellington was concerned, and whether it was in a position to give extra relief in those cases where the new scale was shown on investigation to be insufficient. Deputation to Minister. Immediately following this interview three representatives of ..men on relief works, and one woman representing married and single women, approached the Minister, and after they had stated their individual cases, the Minister replied in terms similar to his reply to the previous deputation, with the addition that he made it' clear that single men who could not obtain exemption were expected to accept the relief work" offering in single men's camps. A final request was made that those who had that day left their work would not be victimised. The- Minister said they would not be so dealt with, providing all hands went quietly home and resumed work in the morning.' A plea was made that relief workers should be allowed to meet again at the Basin 'Reserve in working time to-morrow, further to consider matters. This request was not agreed to. The delegation retired at 5 p.m. The Minister undertook to make a statement in the morning., Statement Postponed. A meeting was held this evening between the Minister and the Unemployment Board the Mayor and deputychairman of the Mayor's Belief Committee, and representatives of the Hospital Board. The position was fully discussed, and a decision reached. It must, however, be clear to all that as a result of thiß evening's happenings the-position is entirely changed as the undertaking given on the part of.tho interviewers was not observed, "In view of what has happened, said Mr Coates, "I shall postpone making any statement until the mp n resume work.".* '

ALL WORKS "BLACK." VIOLENCE DISCOUNTENANCED. (TRKS3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, May 10. The Belief Workers' Strike Committee met immediately after the window smashing, and was addressed by Mr P. Eraser, and, Mr A; Parlane, of the Drivers' Union, .Tho speakers endorsed the action taken by t&6 Strike, Committee up to that evening, but discountenanced all acts of violence. They approved the manner in which the demonstration to Parliament Buildings had been organised and conducted until, the dispersal. When the speakers had retired a relief finance committee of seven members was formed with power to act. A Trade Union Committee of three was elected. AH relief works in Wellington were declared "black." Only the Strike Committee is to take any steps towards a settlement. A mass meeting of relief workers is called for this morning.

BALLOT BEING TAKEN. POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. The counting of votes in the ballot which is being, conducted among,relief workers in Canterbury to decide whether they will strike or continue work under the new conditions imposed by the Unemployment Board has not yet been completed. The ballot is being conducted by the Committee of Action set up from the United, Front Movement, the Unemployed Workers' Movement, and the Belief Workers' Union. The organisers are anxious to secure a repfe! sentative expression of opinion, and to this end they are enlisting the votes of all relief workers in the City and suburbs. There was a large gathering of relief workers in the Trades Hall last night j but no report of their discussion was given to the Press. The Waimakariri River Trust, the City Council, and other,local bodies controlling schemes of unemployment relief have so far had no trouble with the men. j ,