FRAY COMMENCES

Northern Advocate, 16 April 1932, Page 7

FRAY COMMENCES

HOPELESS CONFUSION CONSTABLES BRANDISH EATONS. STREET RESOUNDS WITH BLOWS. (Special to "NorUiern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. Two men were seriously injured hy baton wounds and a dozen more received blows of a less serious character in an ugly fight between special constables and a section of the rioters in Karangahape Road near the Bon Marche, in last night’s affray. The smashing of a window was the start of the trouble. A section of special constables, in solid formal ion and brandishing batons above their heads, rushed forward to arrest a man shouting “Stand hack! Stand back!” to a. dense crowd of people, men, women and children who got in their way. As they jostled the crowd enrses were hurled at them hy the iuen in front, women shouted: “Leave him alone! Dirty scabs!’’ and the next instant the street was thrown into hopeless confusion. While the specials plied their batons men used their lists. For three or four minutes the street resounded with blows, frenzied yelling and scuffling of feet. A woman -was knocked down in the melee and was carried into a shop, and half a. dozen rioters with bleeding heads and arms reeled out of the struggling mass, leaving one of their number in the hands of the specials.

The men who were in the forefront of the attack gradually thinned as some wore put out of action by wounds, and others got out of reach of the specials. The man who was arrested was bleeding profusely from a deep gash on the head, and the mob, jeered and hooted as he. was led away.

Shattering Alarms. ■One man walked ■ up to the A. 8.0. Stores and plunged his fish through one of the large plate-glass windows, drawing out his hand streaming with blood. He., was. instantly pounced upon by a constable and batoned.

As the evening drew on the specials became involved in further action. Their tactics wore to band closely together, two or three deep, and move forward through the surging throng whenever the crash of breaking glass offered them a point in the confused mass of people on which to centre their attentions. These tactics were the signal for,a storm of shouting and scream--ing,- men .and youth hurling oaths upon them and urging each other to stand their ground. ilnterinittent spasms of windowbreaking, over* a' period of twenty minutes, kept one section of specials moving about from place to place. No sooner" had they turned in one direction than a resounding crash on the opposite side of the street caused them to alter their course and make for the plaeo where the offender was thought to be. The denseness of the prowd, however, impeded their, progress, and by the time they, reached the spot everyone round the window .had scattered and all they could do was to keep part of the crowd moving Until another window was broken on the opposite side of the street. A dozen windows or more were broken in tins manner, many of them the work of individuals. Splendid Restraint. At the intersection of Pitt Streel and Karangahape Road it was estimated, that between 4000 and 0000 people were congregated for several hours. The bearing of the foot and mounted police during the disturbances was favourably commented upon by many of the spectators. The. police kept a considerable section, of. the crowd in fairly good humour, and prevented many further ugly incidents occurring by their firm but cheerful demeanour.

During the worst of the disturbances it was customary to see constables talking and exchanging humourous remarks with the bystanders. A big constable, urging- the mob back, cried: “Now then, back to the footpath, please!” a broad grin over his face as he waved some unruly youth to the background. Other members of the force entered into good-natured discussions with those nearest, replying good-humouredly to comments from the crowd. All through an exceedingly trying and provoking evening, they kept their tempers, ami their general bearing of .strong selfreliance gave the impression that they wore fully, apprised of the situation and, although often obliged to act individually, were complete masters of themselves. PUBLIC MEETING PROHIBITION DOMINION APPLICATION. (Per Press' Association.—Copyright.) WELLINGTON, Tills Day, Inquiries were made of the Public Service Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police yesterday as to the position with respect to public meetings. Although nothing definite was disclosed, it is. understood the Auckland announcement that no public demonstration or meeting will bo permitted until further notice will apply to Wellington and also to other centres o£ population, '