BATON CHARGE

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1932, Page 5

BATON CHARGE

ON UNEMPLOYED IN WELLINGTON STREET By the Police GREAT CROWD ROUTED. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, May IL There was an attempt by the striking relief workers and the unemployed to hold a mass meeting on a vacant section in Upper Cuba Street this afternoon. This precipitated a brief, but ugly, clash with the police. Within a space of two minutes, a , threatening crowd of 2000 men was routed and scattered by mounted and foot constables, they giving no quarter, and making a lightning baton charge. The strikers and the unemployed were embroiled in the melee by militant leaders, who defied a ban imposed on all outdoor assemblies, and ignored the appeals of the Trades Hall; officials. Throughout the morning and the early afternoon, an atmosphere of tension existed in the Vivian Street area, 1 particularly in the vicinity of the' Trades Hall, where meeting after meeting was held by the strikers’ delegates. At 3.30 p.m. an attempt was made to hold a full meeting of the strikers sin the Trades Hall Dance Hall. In a few minutes the hall stairways and the corridors on every floor were jammed with humanity, and then, from those who had no hope of admittance to the meeting, there came the cry: “To the vacant section in Upper Cuba Street!’’ This instruction was repeated by the .leaders, and was acted upon excitedly. Hundreds poured out of the building and flocked along Vivian Street, where they were reinforced by hundreds more* No formation was suggested or attempted. the crowd blocking the entire thoroughfare as it proceeded to Upper Cuba Street. A strong force of police, under Inspector J. Lander, accompanied the would-be demonstrators, and special police, with steel hats, were drawn up in double ranks at the intersection of Vivian and Cuba Streets, but no attempt was made, at that juncture, to, disperse the crowd, or to interfere with its movements.

When the vacant section was reach-1 ed, the crowd, which by. that time was about 2000 strong, completely filled it. There was a mingling of the over-, flow and of curious onlookers who! lined the fences on three sides of the; area, while hundreds more curiosity; seekers blocked the Cuba Street foot-; paths. Inspector Lander warned the leaders; that the speeches must be brief. Mr Kelly, who was prominent in yes-! terday’s demonstrations, was the second speaker, and he was referring to the Alliance of Labour arranging fori a one-day strike, when Inspector Lan-1 der said: “That’s enough.” Mr Kelly continued, but he was pulled from the box. Instantly, a shower of bricks and stones came from a corner of the sec-[ tlon. “Got at them!” shouted Inspector Lander. The police then swept forward with their batons drawn. The crowd were stampeded in all directions. Many were pushed against the fences, which gave way, and the throng scrambled through the back yards, they being pursued by constables, who belaboured all those who stopped or turned. There -were mounted constables also, who moved in among the fleeing crowds. Casualty List MAN’S LEG BROKEN. WELLINGTON, May 11. As the result of the disturbance this afternoon, a number of persons were treated by the Free Ambulance and the Hospital for minor casualties. One man received a severe enough injury to warrant his being detained in the hospital, that being a broken leg, sustained when he fell off a fence. The ascertainable injuries are as follows:— Francis Walker, labourer, of the City Mission—a broken leg in hospital and discharged. D. Donald, labourer, of 97, Rintoul Street —head injuries. W. Bremnor, labourer, of 12, Findlay Terrace—head injuries. J. Calver, labourer, of 27, Braithwaite injuries. H. Mather, labourer, of 39, Nairn Street—head injuries. The following were treated by the Free Ambulance:—

J. Turner, seaman, of 26, Lome Street —contused wound to the scalp. H. Geach, labourer, c/o King’s Hotel —abrasions to the legs. H. Dowler, seaman, of 174, Sydney Street—cuts on the hand. A Merciless Charge MANY INJURED. CROWD FORCED OVER FENCES. WELLINGTON, May 11. During the baton charge, the flood of men flat eno d and smashed every obstacle. except an iron bedstead, leaving the rear of a little home trampled and desolate. Nearer the front of the section, the melee, for a few moments, took an even more desperate turn. Another wooden, fence went down, and dozens invaded the yard, but the path follow-l pfl by the charging p'oliee took them clear of that point, and the pressure

was then relaxed, thus preventing further damage. JAGGED FENCE CAUSES INJURIES. Behind the next house, however, there was a rusty fence of corrugated iron, on which men scrambled and kicked as other men strove to escape over their bodies. A number of men were badly scratched and cut about the hands by the jagged iron, and dozens of suits were torn. HUNTED BY MOUNTED MEN. On the other side of tho section, ihe rabble was fleeing from th e mounted ‘men, who cantered here an there, assisting the foot police. Stones and bricks flew, but the great majority were far too intent upon escape to think of turning and showing fight. The rout was as complete as it was swift, and the police used no half measures. WOMEN AND CHILDREN CHARGED. The women were swept towards the street, the majority of the women, fortunately enough, being clear of the main police charge. Screaming children fled with the rest, but, in the chaos, it was impossible for anyone to discriminate, and several children were knocked down by running men The neighbouring small garden plots were trampled, and many of the crowd took shelter in where their! minor injuries were attended to. A nearby chemist also was occupied for some time treating cuts and ■ bruised scalps. Police Statement WHY BATONS WERE USED. WELLINGTON, May 11. The Commissioner of Police, Mr W. G. Wohl man n, made the following statement this evening:— “My information is that the large! gathering outside of the Trades Hall this afternoon could not gain admission, and occupied a vacant section nearby. Delegates from the Trades Hall were given permission by the Inspector of Police to inform this crowd jof the result of the meeting inside of the Trades Hall, and to deliver o statement to them. In defiance of this request, a well-known Communist, named Kelly, mounted a soap box, and commenced to address the meeting.. He was warned to desist, but he refused Steps were then taken to prevent him continuing his speech, with the result that stones and bricks were thrown at the police by members of the crowd. Tho police were forced to disperse the crowd by drawing their batons, and in the melee that ensued, some ten were injured, none of them seriously; and a number were removed to the hospital for temporary treatment.” ANOTHER CROWD DISPERSED. The Police , Commissioner further stated: “This evening a very large crowd, estimated at between 2000 and 3000 persons, apparently composed to a considerable extent by sightseers, remained persistently in the neighbourhood of Cuba and Vivian Streets. By careful restraint, a large force of police, who were present, succeeded about 10 o’clock in inducing them to go quietly home.” Unemployed Misled BY COMMUNISTS AND IRBESPONSIBLES. LABOUR LEADER’S EXPLANATION. . WELLINGTON. May 11. On behalf of the officials at the Trades Hall, Mr A. J. Cook stated this evening that the action taken by the striking relief workers in assembling in Upper Cuba Street had been in direct opposition to the advice of'the Labour officials and Labour Members of Parliament. “The men were led into the melee by ii responsibles and Communists, only to get knocked about,” said Mr Cook. “The responsible officials at the Trades Hall did everything possible to stop th-em. ’ ’ Mr Cook added that the Labour officials formed a Committee, including the rel : ef workers’ delegates, and set about discussing the position, but among the strike leaders appointed to the Committee were Messrs Kelly and Sandford, who urged an immediate decision on the one-day strike question, and announced their intention of assembling the strikers. Mr Kelly was told definitely that the Labour representatives could not in any way commit the industrial organisations, and he and Sandford were advised not to attempt to hold meetings of relief workers and the unemployed. The two de’egates ignored this warning. and called a meeting of the men. As far. as the. one-day strike ques-1 tion was •concerned, said Mr Cook, the | replies of the Unions had not yet been I received or considered, and nothing definite had be,e n decided upon. People Out Late “SPECIALS” PATROL STREETS WELLINGTON, May 11. Lambton Quay ami Willis Street where damage was done last evening is still being patrolled to-night specials In Cuba Street, Taranaki Street and Vivian Street the area is under the protection of the regular-police. At about ten thirty the street wers comparatively quiet, and most of those who had been waiting abput began to drift away.