WORKLESS ARMY

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1932, Page 5

WORKLESS ARMY

INVASION OF LONDON CALL'AT DOWNING- STREET. APPALLING CONDITIONS. (United Press Association —By Eiectrt Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 0 a.m.) LONDON, October 29. After finding that the House o .Commons was not sitting to-day, i deputation of “hunger marchers,” in eluding a woman carrying a haversack called at, No. 10 Downing Street will a letter asking the Speaker to ad mi: the delegation to the Bar of the House petitioning against, economy cuts am revealing the appalling conditions ol millions of unemployed. The deputation also left a letter foi the Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald asking for a public inquiry into the disorders outside Hyde Park on Thursday, and for tho immediate release of those arrested. A special messenger is conveying the second letter to Mr. MacDonald, who is out of town. The marchers, eating oranges, then returned to their headquarters. FURTHER CLASHES. i DUE TO HOOLIGANS. POLICE CHARGE MOB. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, October 30. Crowds clogged Trafalgar Square all Sunday afternoon to sec the “hunger marchers” demonstration, A drizzle of sleet made the conditions unpleasant. Many of the marchers attended church in the morning. Trouble did not develop for two hours, after which demonstrations by hooligans armed with sticks at 'Whitehall, Northumberland Avenue and Charing Cross, compelled tho police to charge. Several arrests resulted. Columns of processionists headed by pipers and other bands, arrived in good order. Speakers scrambled on the plinth of the Nelson Monument, but their speeches failed to hold the crowds, who cheered -when the church bells of St, Martin created a diversion by chiming a hymn tune.

The timely charge, followed by the closing of the iron gates at Admiralty Arch, defeated an attempt of 300 to rush the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. There were shouts of “Smash the Palace windows.” Railway men stood ready to close the gates of the underground station and tho grilled doors of neighbouring hotels were shut.

i The procession reassembled and off at sunset escorted by foot police. All was quiet at six o’clock. Nine people were slightly injured in the clashes and were treated at hospitals, then discharged.

' THREE-DAY DEBATE

COMMONS EXPERIMENT

("Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 30

The “Daily Telegraph” states that the three-day debate in unemployment, which will begin in the House of Commons on November 4, will bo an interesting Parliamentary experiment. It will be a non-party pooling of ideas. Though the front benches will leaTl for the Government, the Opposition intends to give back-benchers greater opportunities than normally to submit suggestions.