THE PUSH ELEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 197, 27 August 1901, Page 3

THE PUSH ELEMENT.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sip.,—You have had a good deal lately about " The Fatal Fight,” and I am not prepared to be “ churned up ” in that subject, as Mr Maunseil would put it ; have a favor to ask of you for the benefit of the commnity. It is to publish the subjoined article from the London Daily Telegraph, to show a Sydney evil that New Zealand should guard against.— I am, etc., Y.M.C.A.

In July “ Blackwood,” Mr Ambrose Pratt, of Sydney, who is now residing in salubrious Hampstead, discourses sweetly and at some length on “ Push Larrikinism in Australia,” and reveals the fact that he himself was at one time intimately associated with the largest and most important “ push ” society in Sydney. Mr Pratt, of course, did not assist in any of the ‘'booting” exploits of his “ push,” and the connection therewith was merely that of legal adviser, a position which, he tells us, he assumed as much from motives of curiosity as from any hope of profit. Mr Pratt tells us in italics that the in-

formation ho acquired could not be made use of whilst he was in Australia. This is, I think, a sufficient indication of the nature of his late clients. The Sydney police might also have had something to say to him had he published His article whilst still in the city of the beautiful harbor, for he comes down heavily upon tlie minions of the law, who “ mocked,

derided, and assaulted whenever a favorable opportunity arises . . revenge themselves when they can, and their methods are often unjustifiably severe.” The objective ambition of all “ pushes ” is, he tells us, amusement, and their chief sources of pleasure dancing and picnics. Harmless things these, “if it wasn’t for the hashings in between.” The second definite objective in “ pushes ” is to secure immunity from the consequences of their diversions, which are neither dancing nor picnicking. It may surprise some to hear that the “ pushes ” have political ambitions. Mr Pratt declares that this is so, and tells us that now the larrikins have discovered their political power they .’will ere long, unless suppressed, bo running Parliamentary candidates of their very own.

“ When candidates are announced, their various qualifications are privately discussed during an appointed period. The king then calls meetings of the 1 push ’ throughout the extent of his district, and a ballot is taken, the result of which determines the votes of the entire society. In the ‘ Liver Push,’ so late as last October, were enrolled the names of more than •100 youths, varying in age from 17 to 20, at least 200 of whom possessed electors’ rights.”

Dealing with “ push ” organisation generally, Mr Pratt tells us that its keynote is masterly simplicity. Its inventors seem to have realised that it must be easy to conceal that which is scarcely worth tho trouble of revealing ; and, no doubt, its very simplicity is largely responsible for the success it has achieved and tho mystery wherein it is enshrouded. All male youths above the ago of seventeen who permanently reside in a “ push ” district arc eligible for membership. Should thoy wish to join they send to the king a written application and a fee of 10s, which fee is one of tho king’s perquisites of office. On receiving the application the king calls together his five councillors whom ho instructs to make enquiries and report. A meeting of the " push ” is then convened, and the applicant is accepted or rejected on a show of hands. If accepted, he serves as a provisional initiate for a period of six months, when upon subscribing his name to tho book of crimes, the “ push book,” as it is called, lie becomes a full-fledged member, and is made acquinted with the “ push’s ” code of laws. No ,oath is administered, and there is no ceremony or form of introduction whatsoever, although the whole police force of Australia think otherwise. “ Push ” government is in all cases monarchial. Each “ push ”is ruled by an elected king, who retains office for life or good conduct, and whoso power within eortain well - defined limits is absolute.

“ The position of tho king is by no means a sinecure. lie is expected to settle all disputes, to control and preside over all public gatherings, to arrange for tho execution of ‘ push ’ vengeance, and to conduct political elections within his district. Ho is treasurer of his society and administrator of its funds, which arc deposited in some bank to his sole credit. All members pay him the weekly sum of 6d, the accumulations of which contributions he principally devotes toward the maintenance of tho families of thoso of his subjects who fall ill, lose their employment, or undergo terms of imprisonment. Tho king is also judge of all push offences and awarder of penalties. He is, nevertheless, just as subject to ‘ push ’ laws as the latest recruit of the order.

“ Tho kings arc usually men of some property or position—publicans, pawnbrokers, or small storekeepers, never laborers or artisans, for their duties arc engrossing and onerous, and require several hours daily of closo attention. They arc assisted by five councillors, whom they select from the ‘ push.’ Tho king is addressed as ‘ sir,’ and spoken of as 1 him.’

“ The first and most stringent principle of 1 push ’ law enforces obedience to constituted authority. ‘ What the king says goes ’ is their own phrase, and contravention of the maxim is punishable in the first instance with the ‘ sock,’ in the second with death. The sock is not an entirely original species of torture, but it is popular with all larrikins, who dearly love an opportunity of witnessing its infliction. The offender is stripped, gagged, and strapped face downwards along an ordinary wooden bench, whereupon the executioners beat him in turn with astocking filled with wet sand until his tlesh is completely raw. He is then salted, and kept in durance until recovery. “ Tho death penalty is rarely exacted against outsiders who have incurred the ‘ push ’ vengeance ; but in either case the method employed is the same, The king chooses for executioners a score of his subjects, of whom at least seven are the latest recruits of the order. The victim, who is often stalked for months before he can be found in or decoyed to a favorable spot, is, when caught, surrounded, stunned, and thrown to tho ground. No lethal weapon is employed, but each of the 1 push ’ silently kicks and continues to kick, the body of the prostrate wretch until life is extinct. The whole twenty are thus equally rendered guilty of murder, and probably no member of any “ push ” has been enrolled for a longer period than two years without being thus stamped with the ball mark of pushdom, which is the brand of Cain.

'■ This fact, more than all other circumstances combined, explains their marvellous cohesion, their invincible integrity and fidelity to each other, and their loyalty to, and dependence upon, their kings, who alone from the moment of their installation in office are immune from participation in the se nefarious practices. All fear to speak, because all are equally guilty, and each mau knows that if he played the traitor, police protection would prove inadequate to save him from the anger of his outraged fellows.” The remainder of the “ push ” laws are prohibitive rather than directory. According to Mr Pratt, drunkenness is absolutely forbidden, unchastity sternly discountenanced, and if you see a man in the street with a clipped right ear you may know him for a "push ” member who has failed to pay his gambling debts. As Mr Pratt I point's out, {be laws of “ pushdom ” on the subject of fidelity to one’s 11 donah ” are not the result of high moral instinct, but just another simple measure of precaution for the safety of the gang. A jealous woman’s tongue might easily lead to the gang's undoing. Mr Pratt concludes a very interesting article with a brief description of the common “ push " methods of providing for its safety, and a hint of a means whereby possibly the growing evil might be eradicated, “ and Australian society freed of a bugbear which has ridden it for almost half a century."

"Each member of a ‘ push ’ on entering his order, signs his name in the 1 push ’ book, and is by that simple act unwittingly constituted a criminal, for he becomes an immediate accessory after the fact to all the outrages perpetrated by the ‘ push.’ I£ a member desires to sever his coanec-

I tion with his- 1 push,’ or to depart from the ‘ push ’ district in order to reside elsewhere, he is allowed to do so only after signing a confession of having, singlehanded, committed the last capital crime of which the push is jointly and severally guilty. This document —and there are many such—is handed to the king, who files it in the ‘ push book,’ which precious portfolio is naturally kept in a place of security. This book is the one really weak spot in the 1 push ’ system, for once lost and conveyed to the hands of the authorities, the whole ‘ push ’ must stand before the bar of justice, self-arraigned, and self-condemned, as murderers and accessories. No 1 push.’ however, realises

the danger that menaces, and in their blind ignorance actually believe that their safety depends on the careful preservation of these ghastly memorials. At impor- i tant gatherings the book is required to be produced, so that members may have an opportunity of reassuring themselves by perusing confessions which they fatuously imagine transfer and fasten their joint burdens upon the shoulders of absent individuals. If the A-ustralian police are perfectly desirous of crushing tbe heroic growth of ‘ pushdom,’ they should emulate the subtle son of Priam, and direct their arrows at the flaw. Every ‘ push ’ cherishes its book.”