NATIVES RIOT

Grey River Argus, 4 June 1942, Page 5

NATIVES RIOT

Against Low Wages

IN BAHAMA ISLANDS.

(Rec. 11.50.) LONDON, June 3. At Nassau, in the Bahama Islands on Tuesday, unskilled labourers engaged on a large American project demonstrated. The workers smashed the show windows of fashionatm stores and looted them. Two of the rioters were killed. Others were wounded. Then the police and troops restored order. The Acting-Governor, Mr Heape, has now established the curfew from eight p.m.. to six a.m. ■ The demonstrators protested against their wages, which are four shillings a day. . . The looting of liquors, expensive English fabrics and rare perfumes was widespread. FURTHER RIOTING. (Rec. 12.40.) LONDON, June 3. A later message from Nassau states that the rioting is now continuing in the Nassau suburbs, principally in Grantstown. There is a large negro section there. The mob burned police and hre stations and an ambulance. The authorities have issued a decree that a nightly curfew from six p.m. to six a.m. will continue until order is'restored. Negotiations were in progress to raise the natives’ wages scale, when the riots began, but the Bahamian authorities, however, were unable to act immediately, since the wages scale was set by an agreement between the British and American Governments. _ The Duke of Windsor (Governor of the Islands) has arrived from Washington, after 'cutting short his visit there. i