Arrests in many centres on New Year’s Eve

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33422, 2 January 1974, Page 1

Arrests in many centres on New Year’s Eve

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 1. New Zealand heralded 1974 with widespread disorders, including bottle-throwing at Nelson, Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga, and other centres.

Twenty-seven persons were arrested in Christchurch on New Year’s Eve on charges including disorderly behaviour, drunkeness, and obscene language.

In Cathedral Square, the New Year was greeted by about 500 people, many cheering and frolicking. Many policemen were on duty and no major disturbances occurred.

All vehicle entrances to the Square were blocked by wooden barriers, Ministry of Transport officers and policemen about 10.30 pun. The police confiscated liquor being carried into the Square and smashed full i bottles of beer in rubbish tins. $2450 IN FINES 1. Ten persons who appeared in the Gisborne Magistrate’s Court today and admitted offences near the Gisborne town clock on New Year's Eve, were among them fined I $2450 by Mr W. M. Willis, |SM Two others who admitted charges were remanded to January 3. as was another

who pleaded not guilty. Four will appear in the Children’s Court. The offences mainly related to throwing and breaking bottles, for which fines of $3OO each were imposed. Twenty-nine persons faced charges in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court today. Fines ranging from $2 to $lOO were imposed by Mr C. E. H. Pledger, S.M., but a number of the defendants were remanded until January 22 for sentencing. Nearly all the charges related to offences in front of the Chief Post Office on New Year’s Eve. “UGLY” SCENE At Napier, jeering crowds broke bottles and used obscene language. Fifty-three arrests were made. The police, including two carloads from Wellington, 15 officers from Hastings, and about 65 from Napier, described the incidents as “some of the ugliest they had encountered.” Today Mr W. K. Dougall, S.M. f sent six persons, including two women, to gaol for 14 days, and imposed fines amounting to $2055.

He remanded 14 to appear in court later and adjourned 12 cases to the Children’s Court. The charges included assault on police, obstructing police, resisting arrest, depositing dangerous litter, disorderly behaviour, offensive behaviour, obscene language, and possessing offensive weapons. During the bottle-throwing incidents several policemen were injured, but none seriously. On one of the many trips to the Napier police cells with vanloads of prisoners, one of those arrested forced the door, throwing several prisoners on to the road. They were admitted to Napier Hospital with injuries including broken limbs. GLASS SMASHED Nineteen young people were arrested in Queenstown. Shovel-loads of broken glass were scraped from the Queenstown Mall and waterfront by council workmen on New Year’s Day. St John Ambulance officers were busy all night treating cuts and scratches from the broken glass. One policeman hit by a

flying bottle suffered a cut mouth and bruised face.

At Wanaka 37 persons were arrested on charges ranging from offensive and disorderly behaviour to depositing dangerous litter and brawling. However, there were no serious incidents, said SeniorSergeant G. C. Hill. A decision by the Wanaka Hotel management not to permit the sale of bottled beer to take away on New Year’s Eve played a large part in the notable absence of broken glass around the hotel.

Wellington had a "relatively quiet" New Year’s Eve, only 11 arrests being made, a police spokesman said. Most of the arrests were for offences not "in relation to festivities,” he said.

A Tauranga magistrate condemned bottle-throwing incidents at Mount Maunganui when 22 persons appeared in Court today. Six of them were dealt with in the Children’s Court. Four of the 16 in the Magistrate’s Court were remanded and released on bail, and 12 were ordered to pay fines ranging from $2O to $lBO.