MASS DEMONSTRATION

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 11

MASS DEMONSTRATION

Unemployed in London RIOTOUS SCENES Disturbance at Hyde Park BATONS USED BY POLICE By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright London, Oct. 27. About 15,000 unemployed, including the hunger-marchers, gathered at Hyde Park to-day for a mass demonstration, causing disorganisation of traffic in West End streets for several hours. The meetings were concentrated at six platforms, widely separated, Messrs. Saklatvala and Tom Mann were among the speakers. The marchers carried banners demanding relief or employment, and sang “The Red Flag” or "The Internationale.” Strong forces of mounted and foot police tactfully kept order. Though the crowd within Hyde Park gave little trouble, riotous scenes marked a conflict between the police and thousands of sympathisers of the hunger-marchers around the Marble Arch before the mass meeting began. Thousands Surge Forward. An arrest outside the park incited thousands to surge forward, snarling and hooting, as a van removed the prisoner. Twelve mounted police charged with staves, while twenty chased demonstrators through bystreets, several being arrested. Drapery shop windows were smashed. but shuttering prevented looting. Other disturbances were quelled, but as the home-going vehicles swelled the traffic, the roadways became chaotic. The police cleared a passage and made further arrests, while the crowd threw mud at stationary police cars. • Mounted police dispersed 1000 men threatening the special constables whom the crowd resented as “blacklegs.” The fugitives rifled a coke cart and smashed windows. Other demonstrators boarded lorries and snatched mops and pipes with which they menaced the mounted constables. Some, waving red flags, shouted, “To Hell with the National Government!” The police galloped up and down Rotten Row, quelling disturbances and making further arrests. Panic-Stricken Women. Apart from a few broken heads, the worst result was the panic of frightened women shoppers, who unexpectedly found themselves involved in a riot in which the mounted police cleared the streets by walking their horses on the pavements- A number of innocent persons were knocked down, necessitating the use of ambulances. Inside the park further trouble developed in Rotten Row, where a party of angry Communists seized handfuls of mud and gravel and flung it at the mounted police. The latter drew their batons and dispersed them. By 5.15 p.m. all the columns of the hunger-marchers had left the park and marched to the suburbs, where they were billeted in the houses of sympathisers. Many were obviously suffering from extreme fatigue, and their leaders tried to cheer them by starting songs. Kain Ends Disorders. Forty persons were treated in the hospitals in connection with the rioting. Twelve arrests were made. A heavy downpour of rain in the evening ended attempts at Communist disorders, damping the ardour of even the most pugnacious. Parliament House was strongly guarded in the afternoon and evening. Ten thousand unemployed demonstrated against the means test at Glasgow. The police prevented trouble, as they did with similar displays at Birmingham and Manchester. PETITION TO HOUSE Permission to Appear at Bar UNEMPLOYED DEPUTATION (Rec. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) Official Wireless. Rugby, Oct. 27. In the House of Commons the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. G. Lansbury, asked that time might be saved on the remaining stages of the Ottawa Agreements Bill so that unemployment might be discussed. The Prime Minister undertook that if possible this should be done. Other Labour members requested leave to move the adjournment of the House to discuss this subject in view of the arrival of unemployed demonstrators in London. The Speaker said that he was unable to accept the motion, as the Government had promised to bring in a Bill dealing with the means test, which dealt with the unemployment problem. He advised Labour members that the correct course was the presentation of a petition to the House of Commons asking permission for a deputation of unemployed marchers to appear at the Bar of the House to present their case. This advice is being followed and a petition will be presented early next week.

EMPHASIS IN PRESS Disorders Not Serious (Rec. October 28, 10.45 p.m.) London, Oct. 28. The newspapers generally emphasise that the significance of the disorders and hooliganism in Hyde Park and neighbourhood is likely to be exaggerated abroad. Actually they were not serious. “The Times” says. “The publicity value of rioting is thoroughly understood by the organisers of these senseless demonstrations under the name of hunger marches which implies a state of sgtarvation. No one in England will be allowed to perish of hunger.” The “Morning Post” says that the conduct of the genuine unemployed, both on the march and at the demon-, stration, gave little cause for complaint, though the hammer and sickle on their , banners suggested the power behind the well-organised display. These hapless unemployed were set In motion by a hand skilful in making trouble.” The “Daily Telegraph” says that neither this nor any other demonstration will affect the truth that provision for the unemployed in this country is far more generous than in any other.