RIOT AT KALGOORUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17253, 1 September 1919, Page 8

RIOT AT KALGOORUE.

UNPOPULAR ITALIANS.

RETURNED SOLDIERS' FIAT.

SINGLE MEN ORDERED TO GO. [FEOJf OUB OWN COKEESPONDENT.] . SYDNEY, Aug. 21. There were grave fears that racial riots of a serious kind would follow the affray [ in Kalgoodie on August 12, when a returned soldier was fatally stabbed by an Italian, and the returned soldiers' organisation issued a warning that all Italians should leave the place with no loss of time. The soldiers' notice expired on Saturday, but by then matters had quietened down considerably. There was a great exodus of Italians from the goldfield, however.

there are perhaps 20,030 people in and ; around Kalgooriie, and about 1000 of them , are Italian labourers. They do the very heavy work about the mines, but a large proportion of them are " out on the woodlines." These goldfields depend for fuel mainly on woods which have 4o be brought long distances, and considerable numbers of men are employed in the laborious work of wood-cutting and transportation. There was a strike on the'" wood-lines the other day, and the Italians went crowding into the town.

Kalgooriie has its Italian quarter, and the Italians keep aggressively to their own language, institutions, and customs. They have their own wine saloons, and it is said that Australian women have* been ■enticed into their undesirable establish, ments. Now and again, when they are festive, they march oat into the streets, jostling passers-by and noisily singing their patriotic songs. Anything but a friendly feeling has grown up between the •Italians and the British. There is a great ■preponderance of men on these goldfields —a condition which seems always to lead to outbreaks of lawlessness. There have \ been' many crimes of violence, and no less than three men are at present in gaol in! Kalgoorlie awaiting trial on murder! charges.

Although it was a returned soldier that was stabbed, the riot which followed was not, the work of returned men, but of a most undesirable element of hooligans and looters. This mob attacked the pre, mises of many quite inoffensive Italians, simply in order that «hey might rob them, while 'the real culprits, single and irresponsible Italian labourers, were not hurt. That was why the soldiers' fiat went forth: ''The unmarried Italians must get out." The soldiers declared that there would be no further disorder, but their grimness and determination had an effect. The exodus on the following Friday and Saturday was so great that a special train was required. Most of the single Italians have gone out to the wood-lines, where work has recommenced. Others have headed for Perth and Fremantle. It is not desired to deport them, but only to scatter them. Europeans are not unwelcome in Australia, but trouble will always follow when they herd together in exclusive communities.