SPANISH STORM CENTRE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 27 March 1935, Page 8

SPANISH STORM CENTRE

BARCELONA’S NIGHT LIFE

TURBULENT UNDERWORLD Barcelona’s famous “Barrio Chino” (Chinatown), one of the well-known night life districts of Europe, is to be demolished if Sr. Pick y Pon, the governmental delegate who has replaced the mavor and corporation, remov ed from office by the Madrid Government, has his way. To those who call him a dictator br. Pich y Pon replies that he is only putting into operation plans left behind by the city council. He wants to drive a wide avenue from the port to the slope of the Tibidado Mountain, which would cut through the narrow sti'eets that at present" teem with life, day and night—and especially at night, when the night chibs, cabarets, variety halls, and dancing saloons are opened. Barcelona’s Chinatown, where few, if any, Chinese dwell, has long had a reputation of sheltering a turbulent underworld populated by Spaniards from all parts of Spain and by many foreigners. The constant struggles between Barecelona (the capital of Catalonia), and Madrid have helpea to foment the underworld life of Barcelona by the atmosphere of intrigue which has prevailed. _ There are many wheels within wheels in the question of the rivalry between Catalonia and the rest of Spain, and for this reason it is not always easy to eliminate crime in places where it needs eliminating. Many believe that by the demolition of the “Barrio Chino” a step will have been taken toward making Barcelona a more orderly city.

The Government is taking energetic steps to maintain order in Barcelona and has recently drafted 1200 “shock policemen,” specially trained in the use of machine guns hand grenades and rifles, and equipped with motor transport, to the Catalan capital to aid the very large forces already at the disposal of the authorities.