AN EXPLANATION.

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 11

AN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your paper of Tuesday last appeared a report of tho disturbance caused by the unemployed in Hanover street, in which it was stated that I had been admitted to the Dunedin Public Hospital as a result of injuries received m the melee. From the newspaper report it certainly appears that I had been one of the ringleaders in the onslaught by the unemployed, and it is to correct this impression _ that I am now writing to you. I have now been discharged from the hospital, and think it is only fair to myself that the public should know that I was not in any way connected with the disturbance. The facts were that on the eventful Monday night I walked along George street with numerous other spectators to the Hanover street corner. I waited for a while, and then started to roll a cigarette preparatory to going home. I was standing on the footpath at Shepherd’s Corner, in the act of rolling the cigarette and with my back to tho Hospital Board’s office, when all of a sudden there was a rush, and before 1 had time to turn round I received a severe blow on the top of the head. In view of these circumstances I should be pleased if you could arrange to publish a true statement of the position in order that my name may be cleared. Although 1 happen to be unemployed, and have been so for some considerable time, I have never once taken part in any way in any unemployed demonstration, and I have no sympathy whatever for tho agitations, demonstrations, and riots which have recently been organised hy the leaders of tho unemployed.—l am, etc., John G. Scudamore. April 14.