THE I.W.W. RIOTS.
IMPRESSIONS OF A TRAVELLER. ‘ GOD HELP AUSTRALIA.” Reference to the recent I.W.W. riots in Sydney was made at Christchurch on Thursday by a New Zealander who has spent a number of years in South America, and has recently returned, passing through Sydney en route. “I and other New Zealanders,” he said, “were in Sydney during the riots, and to say the least we were surprised and not a little disgusted to find such a state of affaire existing at present. We heard two senators addressing the crowd in terms which were certainly not a credit to the country or to the men who were speaking. One accused the soldiers of going away, not to fight, but .to rob and prey on the wounded lying on the battlefield. Another speaker challenged the Premier to resign and contest his seat witji the epeaker on the question of conscription. The extraordinary thing about it,” continued the gentleman in question. “is that one of these senators at the beginning of the war gave utterance to the sentiment that Australia would spend her last shilling and her last man in fighting for France and the British Empire. If a sneech like that had been made in Monte Video, which it must be remembered is a neutral country, 1 would not have given two coppers for the man’s life, and certainly no Britisher in South America would recognise him afterwards.” When Mr. Holman and Mr Hughes attempted to speak, continued the traveller, they were simply howled down. The Sydney papers were doing their best to minimise the state of affairs as far as possible, but it was generally admitted that if concarried the trouble would be so serious that it would be little short of a revolution. Large numbers of able-bodied drunken men were to be seen in the streets—men who could and should go to the front, but who instead were shirking while better men were sacrificing all to fight for their country. “If that is what Labour is doing for Australia,” concluded the speaker, “then God help Australia.” ,
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Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 263, 23 October 1916, Page 7
Word Count
347THE I.W.W. RIOTS. Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 263, 23 October 1916, Page 7
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