VANDALISM CONDEMNED

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 24 May 1932, Page 6

VANDALISM CONDEMNED

OUTRAGES LABOUR MEMBERS’ CENSURE PLEA FOR FURTHER INQUIRY (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 23. In the statement on the unemployment situation issued to-day by Messrs C H Chapman, R. McKeen, W. Nash and El. Semple, Labour members of Parliament, reference is. made m the following terms to the recent disorders:— . . , .. “The recent outbreak of vandalism must be condemned by every cdtizen who has the progress, good government and the. well-being of all citizens at heart, irresponsible smashing of the windows of innocent shopkeepers, many of (vhcun are' themselves suffering from the, depression and who have generodsly assisted the unemployed and other necessitous cases, will not solve the problem, nor will it remove the hardship and suffering of the unemployed. All the available evidence, however, proves the damage was caused by a very few persons, and the genuine unemployed were in no way responsible. “While condemning the vandalism which took place' we are of opinion that criminal intent was absent from the minds of several of those arrested, and thb Government should take steps after inquiry at once to ensure the release of a number of those who already have been committed to prison.”