POLICE OUTNUMBERED

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 August 1929, Page 5

POLICE OUTNUMBERED

MELEE WITH STRIKERS.

HARD FIGHT ENSUES,

MANY ARRESTS MADE

(United Press Associaxirffl —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Piw Association.) SYDNEY, Aug. 38. A fierce clash between police and timber pickets and strikers gathered round Hudson’s yards at mid-day yesterday, resulting in fourteen arrests and many damaged heads. The police were terribly outnumbered aa’lic n escorting volunteer workers to the trams at knock-off time. They had occasion to arrest a couple of pickets who aimed blows Avith sharpened sticks at the police. A general melee followed. Batons AA'ere drawn and brandished right and left, the arrested men resisting violently and using shocking language. The position at one time was extremely serious for the police as a crowd of sympathisers once swelled the ranks of the strikers to nearly 4000. Eventually the airrested men were bundled into a patrol waggon, fighting the whole time.

Mr Jock Garden, secretary of the Trades Hall Council, who Avas a central figure, tried to quieten his men who, singing ‘ ‘ Solidarity for Ever, ’ ’ AA*ere a howling riotous mob. The police finally prevailed, but three of their number, including an inspector, received serious blows on tlieir heads which necessitated hospital treatment. Fourteen of those arrested will be charged with either riotous behaviour or assaulting the police. All have boon liberated on bail in sureties of £2O.

MASS PICKETING TO BE SUPPRESSED.

PROTECTION FOR WORKERS. Received 10.35 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY, Aug. 19. The Premier, the Hon. T. R. Bavin, stated that Cabinet AA r as determined that mass picketing in connection Avith the strike or any other industrial dispute should be suppressed and that men going about their laAVful occupations should be protected from assaults. It is understood that if the present ]:iav is found to be inadequate to deal av itli the situation, amending legislature will be introduced next session.