The Wellington Riot.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 10

The Wellington Riot.

The news from Wellington this morning -will shock those people who had persuaded themselves that the period for that kind of thing had passed* It is a story of riot in every respect as disgraceful as the story three or four weeks ago from Auckland, and of precisely the same kind. A small gang of rapidly moving hooligans broke away from a comparatively orderly mass meeting and wrecked and robbed faster than the police could overtake and restrain them. If the amount of damage done turns out to be less than in Auckland that will be because the police were reinforced by specials, knew better what to expect, and were more rapidly on the heels of the offenders. But there was no difference iii intent, and none therefore in the lesson to the rest of the Dominion. The riot means, first, that considerable sections of the population are too undisciplined to be allowed freedom of assembly, and in the second place that if sentences of two or three months do not make blackguards pause punishments will have to be doubled or trebled. But it means also that there will have to be a more definite stand by law-abiding citizens of all classes against every kind of lawlessness and disorder. A correspondent writes to us to-day to ask why the Mayor and Deputy-Mayor do not identify ; themselves definitely with the special police in the suppression of sabotage and violence. There is no reason why they should not do as he suggests when there is open defiance of authority, and every reason why in the meantime they should more generously acknowledge the work these volunteers are doing. But responsibility does not end with Mayors and their deputies. It is the duty of every citizen who is himself willing to be protected to identify himself boldly with the forces marshalled against disorder, and this very many citizens are not doing. Until it is recognised that the times are abnormal, that misery provides opportunities for rogues, and that the rogues are being encouraged directly by fanatics and indirectly by fools, we shall remain in danger of worse disorders than any we have so far experienced. But all danger would disappear if the sober elements of the community were genuinely united.