TWENTY-THREE ARRESTS

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 6

TWENTY-THREE ARRESTS

OFFENDERS REMANDED TILL FRIDAY ESTIMATING THE DAMAGE THREE STREETS SUFFER [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 11. Tho arrests numbered twenty-three, and these men appeared in court this morning on various charges of inciting lawlessness, being rogues and vagabonds in that they were found armed with offensive weapons with a felonious intent, some with indecent language, and some with theft, also with assaulting the police in the execution of their duty and obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. On the application of Inspector Lopdell, who said that other charges would probably be made, all the accused were remanded by Mr Page, S.M., till Friday. Bail was fixed at £2OO for each of the accused. Sixty police, under Inspector Lander and Lopdell, were at Parliament Buildings when the demonstrators arrived there. An urgent call went out at 4 o’clock for all specials, and within half an hour the whole available number, a very large force, were assembled at the central police station and the Taranaki street station. Later on those at the Taranaki street station were transferred to the central station, but the specials were not called upon until the police had driven back the crowd at Whitcombs and Tombs’s, in Lambton quay. The windows smashed in Lambton quay and Willis street numbered 169, and the loss is estimated at approximately £2,000. The heaviest losers were Kirkcaldie and Stains, eleven out of twenty-four large windows facing Lambton quay being broken. The damage, estimated' at £3OO, is covered by a special riot insurance policy. Five of these windows had only small holes caused by stones. Among the missiles' picked up were a pram wheel, a motor radiator cap, a garbage tin lid, an iron bolt, and a spanner. The windows were cleared of stock, but are being re-dressed to-day. • _ The D.I.C. lost four- windows out of eighteen. The secretary of this company went out into the street to remonstrate with the-smashers, but was set upon by a - woman and a mob of angry men, and by the time he had fought his way back into the buildings he had received cuts and bruises. Neither firm lost any goods. The Wairarapa Farmers’ Company lost four largo windows. The damage (estimated at £7O) is covered by insurance. The main losers, so far as looting is concerned, appear to be Armits Ltd., tobacconists, in the quay, the mob helping itself to tobacco, pipes, and other goods on display. The loss is not estimated, but the firm carried a special insurance. In Manners street nineteen windows were broken, including four in Schneideman’s, while James Smith’s, drapers, -lost one. The occupants of the premises that suffered in all three streets have boarded up their windows, but some have merely patched them where the glass had not completely gone. The nature of the damage bears witness all through of the haste with which it was committed. THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY STATE MAY BE DECLARED [Special to the ‘ Star.’] WELLINGTON, May 11. In view of last night’s happenings it is expected that the Government will take early steps to giro effect to the previsions of the Public Safety Conservation Act. This will enable a state of emergency to be declared, and every situation to bo dealt with as it arises. Th 3 police will have authority •to at onco prohibit all street processions, mass meet mg'!, demonstrations, and gatherings of any description. It is understood that the question was to be considered at a meeting of the Executive Council this morning.