Brisbane Clash May Cause Strike To Spread

Northern Advocate, 18 March 1948, Page 5

Brisbane Clash May Cause Strike To Spread

BRISBANE, Thu. (11.30 a.m.). —Reaction to yesterday’s clash between demonstrators and police bids fair to involve all eastern states in the Queensland strike, which, until now, has been contained within the state.

This may force the Federal Government to take action in the matter, which, so far, it has treated as being solely the responsibility of the Queensland Government.

Miners in Southern and Northern New South Wales coalfields are holding pit-top meetings today, and are expected to follow the lead of western miners in deciding on a 24-hour strike as a protest against police and Queensland Government methods.

The clash yesterday, occurred during a march by the strikers into the city after a meeting at the Trades Hall.

The police called for reinforcements from Ipswich, 25 miles away. A force of police said to number 300 lay in ambush at a point near the Trades Hall where the road becomes narrow to cross a railway bridge. The marchers stopped for a moment, but the next instant the road was a mass of struggling figures. Some of the marchers were caught against the overhead bridge rail and disarmed, but they fought back, calling out “Fascists” and “Call this a free country?” The police seized the placards and drove the marchers back toward the Trades Hall, where a battle raged.

The Queensland Labour Council has called upon all Brisbane unionists to assemble this afternoon in King George Square to protest against “Fascist brutality.” The Premier (Mr Hanlon) expressed doubt that the police had exceeded their duty in any way. “I cannot believe that what happened was anything else than a deliberately provoked brawl by the Communist element, which sees defeat staring it in the face,” he said. COMMUNIST M.P. INJURED

A move to have the disturbance made the subject of a public inquiry was defeated at a meeting of the Queensland Parliamentary Labour Party.

Detectives drew short batons. Others fought with fists and both the marchers and- the police used broken wooden placard handles. The police finally shepherded the demonstrators back to the Trades Hall. Dishevelled marchers shouted abuse at the police and sang “It’s a Great Day for the Irish” and “Advance Australia Fair.”

Australia’s only Communist Parliamentarian (Mr Fred Paterson) who was injured early in the clash, is now improved in condition. A medical report says that his skull is not fractured, but that his injuries include extensive lacerations to the scalp, necessitating five stitches, severe brain damage, concussion, and shock. With many more strikers back at work, Queensland railways were able to run over 400 trains yesterday, including the first long-distance mail trains for over five weeks.

five men charged A sequel to the clash was the appearance of five men before the ( Police Court, charged with taking part in an unlawful procession. - They were:—Michael Healy, aged 41, secretary of the Brisbane Trades and Labour Council; Max Nordau Julius, aged 32, barrister; Basil Clifford Tippett, aged 31, watersider; Sydney Herbert Boyd, aged 30, watersider; and Robert Myles, fitter. When charged, Healy said: “I plead not guilty, and I draw attention to the fact that what I did this morning I did from the dictates of my own heart.” Julius read a statement in which he said that he and the Communist member of Parliament (Mr Paterson) went from the Trades Hall as observers and for the purpose of giving legal assistance.

At Ipswich 300 miners decided to defy the executive and return to work.

Julius said: “I saw an absolutely vicious and illegal attack with batons by numerous plain-clothes members of the police force upon people walking peacefully down Edward Street.

“I observed a detective, whose name I know, make an absolutely unwarranted attack from behind on Mr Paterson by hitting him on the head with a baton with terrible force.” All five men were remanded, bail being allowed.