HUNGER MARCHERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1932, Page 7

HUNGER MARCHERS

CLASHES WITH POLICE

SHOP-WINDOWS SMASHED

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

(Recd. October 28, 10 a.m.) LONDON, October- 27.

The convergence of thousands of hunger marchers for a Hyde Park demonstration, seriously dislocated the midday traffic, but otherwise was uneventful. They carried banners demanding relief or employment, and were singing the “Red Flag” or “Internationale.” Strong forces of mounted and foot police tactfully kept order. LATER. Though twenty thousand people within Hyde Park gave little trouble, riotous scenes marked a conflict between tho police and thousands of sympathisers with the hunger marchers, around Marble Arch. Before the mass meeting began, an arrest outside the Pfirk, incited thousands to surge forward, snarling and hooting, as the van removed the prisoner. Twelve mounted police charged with staves, while twenty chased the demonstrators into by-streets. Several were arrested. Drapery shop windows, were smashed, but shuttering prevented looting. Other disturbances were quelled, but, as home-going vehicles swelled the traffic, the roadways became chaotic. The police cleared a passage, and made further arrests, while the crowd threw mud at the stationary police cars. Mounted police dispersed a thousand men, who were threatening special constables, whom the crowd resented as > blacklegs. Tho fugitives rifled a coke car, and smashed windows. Other demonstrators boarded lorries, snatched mops and pipes, with which they were laden, and menaced the mounted constables. Some, waving red flags, shouted: “To hell with the National Government!” The police galloped up and down Rotten Row t quelling the disturbances. Further arrests were made before the processions broke up. Eight civilians and four police were sent to hospital. Ten thousand unemployed demonstrated against the means test at Glasgow. The police prevented trouble, as with similar displays at Birmingham and Manchester. WOMEN SHOPPERS SCARED. LONDON, October 27. About fifteen thousand unemployed including hunger marchers, gathered at Hyde Park, causing disorganisation of traffic in West End streets for several hours. The meetings concentrated at six platforms, widely separated. Saklatvala and Tom Mann were among the speakers. The most serious trouble occurred ‘at Marble Arch, where Lord Trenchard stationed parties of special constables.

The marchers, angry at their presence. began a threatening rush towards the specials. There were a number of ugly episodes resulting in twenty-three being injured in clashes between police and unemployed, including a policeman, who was seriously injured by a bar of iron. In other cases the rioters broke windows in Oxford Street shops, using building brick's, and lumps from an overturned coal cart.

Apart from a few broken heads, the worst result was the frightened women shoppers, who unexpectedly found themselves involved in a riot in which mounted police cleared the streets by walking horses on the pavements. A number of innocents were knocked down, necessitating ambulances. Inside the park, further trouble developed in Rotten Row, where a party of angry Communists seized handfuls of mud and gravel and flung at the mounted police. The latter drew batons and dispersed them.

Bv 5.15 p.m. all the columns of hunger’ strikers had . left the Park, and marched to the suburbs where they are billeted at the houses of sympathisers. Many were obviously suffering from extreme fatigue. The leaders tried to cheer them by singing songs.

PARLIAMENT GUARDED.

LONDON, October 27. Forty were treated at the hospitals in connection with the Hyde Park rioting. There were twelve arrests. A heavy downpour of rain in the evening ended the attempts at Communist disorders, damping the ardour of even the most pugnacious. Parliament House was strongly guarded. Mr McGovern is presenting a petition to the Commons wherein hunger marchers ask access to the Bar of the House on November 1, to plead the cause of three millions unemployed. Mr McGovern will then submit a motion that the House agree to hear the marchers. A SYDNEY DISTURBANCE SYDNEY. October 28. Without preliminary warning, a squad of about 50 police, with batons drawn, charged a crowd of 500 outside the Glebe Town Hall, last night, and in five minutes broke up a meeting called as a protest against the dole questionnaire. A number of men were felled with batons and fists. Five men and two women were arrested. Three were sent to the hospital. Before the charge by the police, several constables on duty at the meeting were attacked by a mob and struck with fists.