MOB LAW AT ADELAIDE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 September 1928, Page 7

MOB LAW AT ADELAIDE

STRIKERS ATTACK WORKERS POLICE RESTORE ORDER <Australian Press Association.) (By Cable —Press Assn. —Copyright.) ADELAIDE, September 27. The watersiders to-day took charge of Port Adelaide, when they marched in procession from the Trades Hall over Robinsons Ridge, where the police made no attempt to prevent them reaching the Free Labour Bureau. On reaching the Bureau, the strikers swarmed over the closed gate, and chased the volunteers, who ran in all directions. There were many fights. Free labourers, after being thrashed, were allowed to escape. The strikers then marched to three vessels lying at the wharves loading. The police here made an effort to disperse the men. Police reinforcements arriving, they finally broke the ranks of the rioters.

During the disturbance the strikers swarmed up the gangway of the steamer Nardana,. and started working the winches and moving cargo, while others tried to loosen the lines holding the vessel to the wharf. They desisted, however, when the other rioters objected. The strikers, who were armed with pieces of timber and metal, attacked the volunteers who were working the Nardana, and chased them into the wharf sheds. The men also attempted to board the German stea’mer, Hanau, hut the ship’s officers were armed with revolvers and truncheons, and they kept them at a. distance, from which the strikers bombarded the volunteers on the deck with a volley of stones and coal, severely injuring nine volunteers before the remainder were ordered under the hatches. Had not the Union -officials taken control of the situation, there would have been no limit to the injuries and danger to human life. Throughout the riot the strikers were too numerous for the police to deal with. During the height of the disturbance, a body of sixty free labourers marched from the wharf, they having been granted a safe conduct, on condition that they left work. When the strikers attacked the, vessel, many of the volunteers jumped overboard, and swam across the river to Birkenhead. In an incredibly short time, there was not a single volunteer in sight of any of the vessels. A large contingent of police from Adelaide were now on the scene of tho disturbance, and the conditions became quiet.

HORRIBLE CRUELTY. <• (Received September 28, 11 a.m.l ADELAIDE, September 28. The police authorities declare that rioting at Port Adelaide was due to hundreds ol unemployed, linking with the waterside strikers, making near-, ly five thousand, who took the police completely by surprise. Ono volunteer was horribly assaulted. When on the ground a cargo hook was driven into his thighs and then he was kicked. Premier Butler called a special Cabinet meeting, and later declared the Government intended to give the volunteers all the protection needed. He stated ■ that the Government determined to stamp out mob rule. ALL. BLACKS’ DENIAL. ADELAIDE,. September 27. The All Blacks areThighly indignant at a paragraph, which appeared' in an Adelaide paper,' stating that the team had been standing by to unload the liner “Ceramic.” There was never any suggestion that the New Zealand team would work the ship.

The players mentioned yesterday, together with Strang 1 and Snow, are leaving for Melbourne this afternoon. A train, with the team on board, froni Port Adelaide to Adelaide City, was held up by strikers, but a special train was arranged. Burrows replaces Hore in the team. The Ceramic now sails at daylight to-morrow for Melbourne. The players will pick up the Ceramic on arrival at Melbourne. There is a suggestion that the party will not catch a ship for New Zealand 'until October 12. BOTH SIDES UNYIELDING. MELBOURNE, September 27. After interviewing the Victorian Premier, Mr Hogan, the delegates from the Maritime Transport Conference stated that the only possibility for a settlement of the dispute was the withdrawal by the Federal Government of its registration regulations. A meeting of the ship-owners informed Premier Hogan that there could be no. negotiations for a settlement until the men returned to work under the Beeby Award in every port of the Commonwealth. FARMERS MAN SHIP. BRISBANE, September 27. When the steamer Toondi arrived at Goondi Mill wharf to load, the crew notified that they were unwilling to rig tackle, nor would they take the vessel to sea, if it were to be loaded by farmers. The owners of the vessel dismissed the whole crew. Farmers are now loading the vessel, and they will man the ship for Cairns. More than sufficient free labour is offering at Brisbane.