SOME UGLY SCENES

Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 8

SOME UGLY SCENES

HOOLIGANISM IN AUCKLAND POLICE PELTED WITH BOTTLES THE MAYOR'S REPROACH (P.A.) AUCKLAND, August 16. One of the uglier incidents of the celebrations occurred shortly before 6 o'clock last night, when a police sergeant tried to shift on to a safer territory several sailors and a civilian who had climbed on to the shop veranda of Milne and Clioyee's store. The men refused to leave their vantage point, and . when the sergeant tried to induce them, to ascend a ladder and enter the store through a first-floor window, hostile elements in the large crowd of onlookers began to hurl bottles. Several of the large firstfloor windows were smashed, fragments of glass showering over the police officer; and a brick, which narrowly missed him, hurtled through a window on the second floor. Shortly afterwards a scuffle which broke out among the crowd created a diversion, enabling the police finally to induce the men to leave the veranda. Other policemen then had n difficult time breaking up the scuffle in the crowd, but eventually peace was restored, and everyone dispersed without any arrests being made necessary. MANY ACCIDENT CASES. One or two other Queen street stores and shops suffered casualties to their windows, but in most cases they were accidental. The damage to the windows at Milne and Choyce's was probably the most extensive. Almost from the first hour of the celebrations in the city a steady stream" of accident cases, both serious and minor, began to pour into the Auckland hospitals. No fewer than 51 cases were taken by ambulance to two hospitals. Many of the casualties were the result of motor accidents, but a number were caused by assaults in the streets. Several people were treated for lacerations after being struck by bottles and glasses hurled among the crowds. IRRESPONSIBLE ELEMENT.

The most regrettable aspect of today's celebrations was one of the worst displays of hooliganism Auckland has ever been unfortunate enough to witness. In a statement issued during the morning, the Mayor. Mr J. A. C. Allum, criticised a small section of the community, whose actions yesterday he described as being " disgusting," Most of the people had been well-behaved, he said, but the actions of this minority had marred the pleasure of the majority. . By 3 o'clock this afternoon it was apparent that this irresponsible element was again in the city in force, and, emboldened by the good-humoured indulgence shown to them on the previous day, they threw good taste to the winds and regarded the occasion as one of mere license for destruction and displays of hooliganism. Towards late evening, the crowds thinned out and the police, whos'e job had been an unenviable one, were able to exert stricter control to prevent a recurrence of the worst excesses. .