ORGY OF WINDOW SMASHING.

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

ORGY OF WINDOW SMASHING.

Disorder at Wellington.

Sequel to Relief Workers' Strike.

Crowd Gathers. With u crowd of upwards of 2000 people clamouring at the gates and a strong cordon of police watching .sharply for the least sign of an outbreak, Parliament House was the scene of the most remarkable incident in the closing hours of one of the most momentous sessions of Parliament in the history of this country. At the moment the GovernorGeneral was appending his signature giving the Vice-Regal assent to the legislation recently, enacted,, relief workers, relatives, and sympathisers were murmuring in an ugly tone against the effects of the new laws and threatening to storm the buildings to gain satisfaction for themselves. As ample warning had been given of the march on Parliament by masses of unemployed, the authorities were well prepared for emergencies, and, as soon as word was received that a groat procession had left the Basin Reserve steps were taken to fortify the gates and the fence surrounding the Parliamentary grounds with mounted and foot police. A crowd quickly gathered. Tho head of the procession reached tho big iron gates only to find them shut against them, and the wide open space in front of the War Memorial soon, filled with participants and spectators.

Government's Policy Criticised. ' Adopting constitutional methods on the advice of their leaders, the crowd waited outside the gates while selected delegates were allowed through to interview the Bt. Hon. J. G. Coates to protost against the new scale of pay and new conditions for relief workers. As time passed and they had not returned, a man who is well known as a leader of these demonstrations, led a series of addresses mainly criticising the government's policy and Mr Coates's unemployment scheme in particular. "We want Coates," called the crowd when admission to the grounds was persistently refused them and the cry was quickly taken up and echoed throughout tho big concourse. Several militant voices suggested storming the low concrete fence encircling tho grounds, and on one occasion a determined movement at the rear of the crowd forced the front rankers against the gates in a very ugly manner. Half a dozen speakers addressed the crowd urging them to organise and take action in a constitutional but determined manner. "The uniformed forces all round us are thoroughly organised" one of the leaders said. "Let us organise ourselves into a properly constituted strike committee." At ono stage, when it appeared that the crowd would disregard all advice and storm over the parapet, one of the leaders exhorted them to wait for Mr Coates's reply. "Let us get the reply," ho said, "and consider it tonight. Then if we do not get satisfaction to-m'orrow we can take action." The majority of the crowd appeared" disinclined to adopt this course and the cry was once more raised, "We want Coates." The standards which had borne the banners were thrown over the fence, but these were confiscated by policemen and smashed up. Militancy Advocated. The attention of the assemblage was suddenly diverted from the gates to a nearby tree, up which a member of the militant section had climbed. He quickly commanded order and shouted for direct action. "Give them five minutes to get back," he said, "and if they have not an answer then, over the «top wc {,"O-" Loud cheers greeted this suggestion, but the leaders again prevailed upon

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £3OOO.

(press associatios teleoeak.) WELLINGTON, May 10. An orgy of destruction in Lambton quay and Willis street was the outcome of a relief workers' strike demonstration at Parliament Buildings late this afternoon. Breaking away from the huge crowd assembled at the gates in front of the war memorial, a small party of about 50 hoodlums had the city streets at their mercy for a brief period in the gathering darkness. They swept down Lambton quay and into Willis street, smashing wantonly as they ran. Plate-glass windows and shopfronts from Bowen street to Upper Willis street and along Manners street were attacked with missiles, sticks, and the boots of the vandals. The damage, which amounts to approximately £3OOO, was all done within a space of barely 20 minutes. The number of windows broken exceeds 160. The strong force of police concentrated at Parliament Buildings was unable to reach or outflank the perpetrators until scattered groups reached Manners street, and as far down as Cuba street, where a number of arrests were made. There was a little looting. People in the streets were mostly amazed witnesses of the destruction. It was all the more senseless because it followed almost immediately upon an announcement by the leaders of the demonstration that the claims of the relief workers were to receive special consideration. Though they were momentarily caught off their guard, the police and temporary police organisations had control of the situation within a short space of time.

the good sense of the mob and sent an emissary up to the buildings to see how the deputation was faring. After some time he returned and reported that the deputation had just been admitted to Mr Coates's room, and was then being: heard. Mr P. Praser Counted Out. A little later Mr P. .Praser, MJP., arrived at the gates and "was promptly counted out and hooted when he mounted a corner post to speak. Ho explained that the men's views had been represented to Mr Goates with the opinion that the new relief scheme was worse than the old. "Personally-I am one. hundred per cent.' with the men ' who have walked off their jobs," Mr , Praser said amid cheers from the crowd and further counting out from another section. He urged constitutional action.. The deputation was away for a long - time, and darkness was enveloping Hie city when the emissaries returned to report that Mr Goates had assured them ho would see immediately what could be done to provide the necessaries of life and better conditions for relief work, and would give an official published reply to-morrow morning. This message was taken very badly by the waiting assemblage, hundreds of whom by that time, were" feeling the effects of the bitter south wind and were in a nasty temper. Hoots and shouts of derision rose from all parts - of the sea of faces, which, looked almost eerie in the flood-lights illuminating the Cenotaph.

Call to Action* A brick was thrown breaking a light globe, and an iron bar fell at the feet of a spectator. "Up the town!" someone «allea, and the call spread with alarming rapidity. For a few moments no move was made in the direction of Lambton quay, but when a small section broke away the main body hesitated and then followed. The leader and his associates tried vainly to shout the erowd into submission, indu- '.:ig a few to stay, but the general movement.was too strong, and the move which led to the destruction of windows began.Police Taken by Surprise. ' The police were completely takes by surprise. All their defences were concentrated inside tho Parliamentary grounds, and while adequate steps had been taken to stem any move in that direction, nothing i was done to encircle the crowd itself and keep the mob eonfined to side streets or to orderly exits from the danger zone. Consequently in spite of all precautions the destruction of windows was going on before the police realised what was happening. Crash of Breaking Glass. The first crash of breaking glass came a minute or two before 6 p.m. By 6.40 o'clock the City streets were guarded at every important point and by large detachments of police and specials. Hundreds of special police in military formation appeared as if from nowhere, and uniformed men, mounted and on foot, had begun an intensive drive to clear and quieten every thoroughfare. This was carried, out coolly and efficiently. Lambton Quay Swept.*' The outburst was far from being a riot. The vast majority of the demonstrating relief workers kept the pe&ije and although the temper of the mob at Parliament Buildings became a matter for serious anxiety as the afternoon wore on, violence was averted. It was not until the mass of the demonstrators began to stream away from the gates that a very small section broke off and began window smashing. Lambton quay was swept as though by a sudden tornado, which disappeared as quickly as it had come. • Hundreds of striking relief workers tramped quietly along tho glass-strewn pavements in the wake 'of

(CONTINUED ON PAGS 12.)