ANOTHER WILD OUTBREAK

Northern Advocate, 16 April 1932, Page 7

ANOTHER WILD OUTBREAK

AUCKLAND INSURRECTION TURMOIL IN KARANGAHAPE RD. MINOR CLASHES WITH POLICE ' WINDOW SMASHING AGAIN RIOT ACT MAY BE INVOKED A second edition of lawlessness occurred in Auckland last night, though fortunately of much lesser degree of violence than that *of Thursday night. Karangahape Road was the venue chosen for the latest disturbance, and in consequence of this renewal, of turmoil the Mayor announced that if a further outbreak occurred he would read the Riot Act, which makes '‘assemblies” unlawful and gives power to impose a term of life imprisonment on those -who refuse to disperse. Sporadic clashes between sonic extremist sections and the regular and special police took place, .and there were instances of windows being broken, but no looting transpired, and the forces of law and order were enhbledafter a time to effect a complete clearance of the thoroughfare. Suppression forces enlisted yesterday in augmentation of the regular strength comprised no fewer than 1000 special constables (including 200 members of the Royal Naval Volunteer- Reserve), parties from H.M.S. Philomel and two squadrons of mounted men from the Waikato, special points being, guarded by armed parties of the Permanent Force, with a detachment from the Hobson Air Base held in readiness in the city. A huge crowd of public sightseers in Karangahape Road considerably hampered the operations of, the police, and incidentally provided cover for the committal of depredations by the bandit element. Numerous arrests were made by the police. RIOTOUS SCENES UGLY SITUATION ARISES HOOLIGAN BLEklElSfr " v WANTON DESTRUCTION VAST THRONG- OF SPECTATORS POLICE DUTY HAMPERED (Special to Northern Advocate.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Rioting broke out in Karangahape Road last night, and although the damage was not as serious as that occasioned in Queen Street on Thursday, the disturbance contained elements even more serious. - The intersection of Karangahape Road and Pitt Street was crowded with sightseers, hut the unruly element was present in large force, Windows were smashed in the same wanton spirit that had characterised Thursday night’s riot, but -there was no looting, and finally hy determined efforts the police succeeded in clearing the street, which at 11.30 was almost deserted. The disturbance was of a sporadic nature, and there was no attempt at organising a gathering. During yesterday the rumours spread throiigh the city that Karangahape Road would be the scene of an organised outbreak. As a consequence Queen Street last evening was almost deserted, the usual shopping crowds going -to Karangahape Road to see if there was any truth in the rumour. SURLY SPIRIT MANIFEST. From 7 o’clock onwards there was a continual stream of pedestrians in the vicinity of Pitt Street. There was a number of police on duty, augmented by detachments of special constables, and no attempt was made to form a definite assembly. Although repeated requests were made by police 'the people did not move on, but simply moved from spot to spot keeping within range of Pitt Street. Shopkeepers were on the alert, and when it was seen that a large gathering was , imminent, a number hastened to clear their windows, even though Hie usual closing hour had not arrived. . Two detachments of naval men, equipped with steel helmets and armed witli batons, but not carrying rifles or bayonets, took np convenient positions. The crowd grew, overflowing the roadway and packing -the safety zones. Tramears and other traffic were able to use the highway at 7.30 p.m. and at this time the general feeling was one, of expectation. Half an hour later traffic was completely blocked. CRASH OF^GLASS; ' Suddenly there was a crash. From the centre of the gathering a stone had been thrown through-a window of the shop of George -Court' and Sons, Ltd. Excitement ran through the crowd, and in quick succession,’windows in the opposite drapery shop of Mr A. G. Ashley’s A. 8.0. Stores were broken, a seel ion of the crowd fleeing down. Pitt Street. Meanwhile the police had taken action, and squads were moving down the pavements, clearing them of people, while a Naval detachment marched np Pitt Excitement now ran high, and the crowd poured back into Karangahape Road, amid cat-calls, hoots and jeers, while the special constables were subjected to abuse. The crowd at this time practically filled Karangahape Road from the corner of Ponsouby Road to Grafton Bridge. As the police and the special constables moved to and fro in an effort- to arrest windowbreakers crashes in oilier directions occurred, and window after window in the vicinity of Pitt Street was broken. The chief snflerers were George Court and Sons, Ltd., and Mr Ashley’s shop, while windows in the Auckland Gas Company’s showroom at the corner of Beresford Street were also broken. ABSENCE OF LOOTING, Spasmodic outbreaks of hooliganism occurred further along Karangahape Road, but there was no attempt at looting, Hie quick action of the police in rushing toward offenders forcing them lo (lee into the thick of the crowd. At regular intervals the mounted special constables rode along the thoroughfare, clearing a path between, the pavement and the centre of the road, but as soon as they had passed the gap was quickly filled, while they were received with a, chorus of hooting and shouting.- Five mounted, uniformed constables were also called into action, and by 9 o’clock they cleared an open space at the head of Pitt Street, while others in conjunefion. with the uniformed men attempted to commence the crowd moving. It was thought 1 hat. when the shop assistants had left their employment at 9 o’clock trouble would commence in. earnest, but nothing, occurred. Moving through the crowd' in small, hands, numbers of men were inciting , others to resist the police and to drag the mounted men. from their horses. Several times the situation was ugly, hut hy tact and avoiding any form of provocation the police kept the crowd quiet, at the same time succeeding in making arrests and despatching their prisoners to the Central Station.