Gang Trouble At Festival

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31785, 16 September 1968, Page 1

Gang Trouble At Festival

(New Zealand Press Association) HASTINGS, September 15., The police made three arrests this afternoon after a disturbance during the Hastings blossom procession. A gang of about 50 motorcycle riders was involved in the disturbance.

A witness said the i motor-cycle riders parked ; their machines, then forced their way through the crowd ■ watching the procession at a street intersection. i A police officer said the I gang threatened to hinder the progress of the procession and ' showed no consideration for i women and children watch- i ing. ; Six policemen had forcibly : to remove the members of the gang and, according to the ; witness, some of the , motor-cyclists resisted. 1 After the arrests the motorcyclists were asked to leave the city, but many were thought to have remained. Both local and visiting riders were in the gang. Some

of them had "Tauranga” printed across their jackets. In Dunedin a policeman was admitted to hospital and 13 arrests were made after an unusually disorderly Saturday night.

Constable P. K. Jonstone was admitted to hospital overnight for observation after an incident which involved youths and a police patrol in Kaikorai Valley Road. As a result of this incident five youths and a girl will face charges in the Magistrate's Court tomorrow morning. The arrests, on such charges as assault, disorderly behaviour and obscene language, were made between 8.45 p.m. on Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sunday.