SYDNEY EVICTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1931, Page 3

SYDNEY EVICTIONS

POLICE RESISTED.

MANY HOSPITAL CASES. (Australian Press As.-.ociation.) SYDNEY, June 17. The fiercest fight between the police and the Cbnimunists in the annals of this State occurred to-day at Bankstown, a Sydney subsurb, where one man was shot in the thigh. There were nine police ,and sixteen of the occupants of a house injured. There was an eviction riot. There had been previous disorders arising out of the. attempts of the police to evict defaulting tenants. These were bad enough, biit they were insignificant compared with to-day's conflict. The police were to-day met by a fusilade of’ stones and bricks. The police had to fight their way through barbed wire entanglements, and to smash the doors of one particular cottage in order to gain admission. There were sixteen men inside tlio cottage, guarding the tenants’ furniture. Volleys of stones were thrown at the police through the windows. , Inspector White received a terrific blow* 1 on the head, and he dropped like a log, with a fractured skull. The remainder of the police were hurt. After bursting into the house, their comrades, who escaped the misiles, plnckily fought back with their batons, and they mowed down the antievictionists like ninepins, many of whom presented a woeful sight when they were at the hospital later. The ambulance worked at high pressure removing those who were injured. The cottage bore grim testimony to the violent nature of the hostilities. Blood was in very room. Eyery stick of furniture was damaged, and every window was smashed. A 1 tremendous crowd watched tlie proceedings, and many free fights occurred among those discussing the merits of the case. Sixteen arrests were made.

■ The police found a pile of Communistic literature in the Bankstovn cottage, .and also piles of stones, heavy waddies, and pieces of pipe. The cottage had been guarded by the anti evictionists for a fortnight.