MELBOURNE POLICE STRIKE

Evening Star, Issue 18668, 24 June 1924, Page 2

MELBOURNE POLICE STRIKE

“TEXTS STORY ” OF ITS CEIGHT. The Chief Secretary, Mr addressing a public meeting at ISrignton (Melbourne), said that the true story of the police mutiny had not been yet told to the people. In view of the announcement by Mr Prcndergast as to reinstatement of the mutineers, it was right and proper that that story (should be now told. The police mutiny did not arise because of unredressod grievances, nor because oJ insulliciency of police stations, as bad been represented, out from a demand for the immediate removal of the supervisors. In certain districts the supervisors, in going their night rounds, had found men in bed who should have been on their beats. Some men were absent from their beats, and their whereabouts was altogether unknown. Others were drunk whilst on duty, There were men in the force who were trying to destroy it. A statement had been made by Mr Snowball that he had complained to the then Premier of various matters. To that statement Mr Lawson gave a denial, adding that Mr Snowball had only made_ representations regarding police pensions and greater police prelection. Mr Snowball's speech on the police mutiny had embarrassed Ihc Government.. He luid pleaded for the restoration of all the mutineers, and that pica bad been greeted with cheers from the Labor Party. The attitude of Mr Snowball toward the Government was serious. He had said that it was the cream of the force that had struck. Were, then, the loyalists the scum of the force I It had been farther inferred by Mr Snowball I hat comradeship was to ho considered before King and country. It was painful to him (Mr Argylc) to make thLa speech. He turd no quarrel with Mr Snowball, but a Government could not carry on with suca supporters.