AUCKLAND RIOTS

Grey River Argus, 30 April 1932, Page 5

AUCKLAND RIOTS

FIFTEEN MEN Charged With Taking Part (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, April 29. The first official account by the police, concerning the riot,, which began at the Town Hall on April 14. was given at the Police Court, when fifteen men, many of whom have already appeared on other charges, were charged with taking part in the riot with James Henry Edwards, and others. The men charged were: George Joseph Silver, labourer, aged 32; George i Devereaux, labourer, aged 38; Oswald Bourbeau, waterside worker, aged 51; John Sharpe, miner, aged 36; Edmund Henry Eayeres, builder, aged 30; Simeon Elari, labourer, aged 21; Leo Martinovich. labourer; Harold Robertson, labourer, aged 19; John Hubert Ed wards, salesman; Clifford John Hudson, labourer; James William Rae Simpson, labourer, aged 32; Mate Dragovich. labourer, aged 33; John William MeCorkindale, miner, aged 37; William John Budd, seaman, aged 35; and Al bert William Searles, seaman, aged 26 Inspector Hollis said that he arrived before eight o’clock, and found seveal police injured, and while he was speaking to a Sergeant, a shower of bricks, stones and pickets came from the crowd. Then he saw one of tho accused leading a charge of rioters. Owing to tho mood of the crowd, witness instruced the officer to -telegraph for reinforcements. including the Navy, Fire Brigade and mounted men. He saw one constable knocked down and jumped on. Constables drew their batons and charged part of the crowd and when the mounted police arrived he ordered .them to clear Queen Street. A large number of police officers and men were injured, several seriously. A salesman said that the fighting started in a flash. He saw a policeman jumped upon from the back, »ind banner poles used on tb©* p’olice. Constable Graham, who followed the procession up' Queen Street, said he saw several windows smashed. As they marched, Jim Edwards edged his part of the procession on to the tramlines. An attempt was made to capsize a taxi. At the Town Hall, the crowd surged round half a dozen police at the main door, and they were struck with poles before they drew their batons. He saw Constable King knocked down, and six or eight rioters all trying to kick him.

Questioned, witness said that stones came from those behind the civil servants in the procession. Many rioters were armed with weapons, which they coulj not have p'icked up in the street. Evidence that at 10.30 on the night of the riot h.e seized a revolver from a man in the crowd, who was excitedly brandishing it, was give n by a cabaret waiter, named Leonard Grandan, -who said the revolver was not loaded. The man disappeared in the crowd.

Counsel for the defence asked if witness -was sure he did not get the revolver from the pawnshop. I Magistrate Hunt and the Police Prosecutor objected to this Remark, th e latter saying it was a particularly plucky action. LATER. The Court which commenced at 9.30 a.m. was continued unltil almost 9 p'.m., by which time most of the evidence had been given. I n all the Crown expects to call the evidence of some 66 witnesses before the completion of its case, probably to-morrow. Among masters previously not made known, it was stated in evidence to-day that misslies actually were thrown by p'eople inside the Town Hall when the police were endeavouring to prevent people from entering. It was staled that Constable W. Cook, who still lies in the Auckland Hospital in a serious condition, was struck by an iron object on the forehead while he was standing in the vestibule of the Town Hall with his back to Quee n Street. Statements made toward building up the official story of the riot- were of a most comprehensive nature. The evidence dealt with incidents during the progress of the procession up Queen Street, the scene in the vicinity of the Town Hall, and in nearby streets, and the occurrence of looking. SILVER GAOLED. AUCKLAND, April 29. George Joseph Silver, who has more charges to answer tha n any of fhe others arrested, as a consequence of the recent disturbance, was charged at the Police Court, to-day. with intimidat. ing relief workers, and inciting lawlessness.

Evidence was given that Silver led 200 or 300 other men to a relief job. where work wag going on. On being informed that the men at the work did not intend to join the strike, Silver said .to his followers: “If these men go back to work what will we do?” Som e of his followers said “Pull them out.” Silver then told the men at work that they knew what to expect, and the responsibility was theirs. Counsel for th c defence said there waS no evidence that an y man had been intimidated. Magistrate Hunt said that Silver had nearly three hundred other men with him. The offence did not depend on whether the workers took notice of what he said. Silver was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, additional to a similar term he received yesterday. The other charges against him were adjourned. ANOTHER WINDOW BROKEN. AUCKLAND. April 28. A large plate glass window on tho Queen Street frontage of the shop of Horace Bull, Ltd., in the Power Board Buildings, was broken by a stone thrown by a man at six o’clock last evening. The pan e was one put into the window last week to replace a sheet broken during the rioting. The incident was see n by a constable on the beat. He pursued the susp’eeted man, who was running in the direction of Albert Park. The man eluded the constable,

who continued the search and later made an arrest. AUCKLAND COUNCIL. ACCEPTS NO LIABILITY. AUCKLAND. April 29. The City Council last night decided that while regretting the losses caused by the riots, it could accept no responsibility for them. One shopkeeper submitted a bill for £27 odd for looted goods, and Gordon Bryan, musician, who gave a recital in the concert chamber, wrote saying rhat many intending patrons were unable to gain admission, owing to the riot. He asked for a reduction in the rental of the chamber. Both requests were refused.

MARCH PROPOSAL

Christchurch Prosecution (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. A police allegation made during the hearing of two charges of inciting lawlessness against Herbert Edwin Barnsley. befor e th e Magistrate this morning, was that he made a suggestion to a meeting of the unemployed that they should take part jn a hunger march on Mr Forbes’ home at Cheviot. The words alleged to have been used by Barnsley wore; “Here is something I want you me n to :think over. I uni not putting it forward, as a motion, but something for you to consider. What is wrong with 200 men making a hunger march to Forbes’ farm at Cheviot, and taking possession? You can take produce, and live in the outhouses. Forbes could dig you out if he liked. I am also of opinion that similar ae-| tion should be meted out to the other' Ministers throughout the country. ” , The police said that Barnsley was the leader of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, and spoke in Victoria ' Square. Barnsley pleaded not guilty, and said that the p'olice extracts did not g've the full text, or the trend of the statements he made.

Barnsley’s Evidence MAGISTRATE’S ATTITUDE. fFer Press Association;. CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. In the case against Barnsley, defend ant, giving evidence, said it was impossible to walk the water to Parliament. Therefore it was desired to see Forbes a't his own home. It was suggested that women join in the march, and be billeted on arrival at Cheviot. They would make a ‘‘peaceful solicitation” for foodstuffs. Witness denied being a member of the Communist Party. He said he was Organising Secretary of the Labour Defence League of Single Men. He had said they should march to Forbes’s house at Cheviot, and there make peaceful solicitations. Witness admitted having said that similar marches should be made to the homes of o'ther Cabinet Ministers. Thc Sub-Insp'ector: What would happen if someone met you at th e gate and said: “You can’t come i n here.’’? Witness: “We would return to the city. ” Other witnesses gave evidence supporting Barnsley’s statements. Barnsley asked for a remand until next week. Thereupon the Magistrate said that any remand would have to be in custody. “You can be remanded for a day and bail allowed,” said the Magistrate, “but not oyer Sunday. I am not going to take any risks.” Barnsley was remanded until to-mor-row.