FEDERAL AID INVOKED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18549, 6 November 1923, Page 9

FEDERAL AID INVOKED.

ENROLMENT OF CITIZENS.

POSITION NOW IN HAND.

SHOTS DISPERSE PILLAGERS. By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE, Nov. 5. ' At a meeting of the State Cabinet, at which General Sir John Monash was present., it was decided to urge citizens not enrolled as special constables Co keep out of the city as a matter of duty, for crowds provided a cover for looters and riots. Men of military age and fitness are urged to join up and assist in the preservation of peace. The Government is making adequate arrangements for feeding and accommodating them. Senator G. F. Pearce, Federal Minister for Home Affairs, announced that the State Government had intimated it was unable to cope with the lawlessness. The Commonwealth therefore had taken steps to afford protection by guards from the navy, army, and air forces. The authorities had the position fairly well in hand last night.. Loyal police, spocials, and detachments of former light horsemen, who responded to the appeal for assistance, kepC the crowds moving. Ono daring attempt to renew the disorder was made near the Eastern Markets, where the police attacked about 100 men engaged in pillaging a tailor's shop. The rioters retreated, submitting the police to such a hail of missiles that eventually several shots were tired. Thereupon the crowd broke and the police completed tho rout with a baton charge.

Several thousand specials have been enrolled, a large percentage being returned soldiers.

STRIKERS DENOUNCED.

REINSTATEMENT IMPOSSIBLE.

PENTRIDGE GAOL DAGGER. A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Nov. 5. The Premier of Victoria, Mr. HI S. W. Lawson, late last night stated Chat the Government, after mature consideration, concluded it was impossible in the interests of public welfare in any circumstances to reinstate any of the police strikers. These had been false Co their oaths, had violated their trust, and deserted their posts, thus handing tho city over to the lawless elements of tho community. It was inconceivable that such men should ba taken back info the service which demands so much honour, good faith, and reliability from its personnel.

It is rumoured that the warders at Pentridge Gaol are restless, and threaten also to join the strikers. Unless this movement is checked it is feared Chat, all the hardened criminals in the gaol will be let loose on the community to accentuate the looting.

Additional plain-clothes police have joined the strikers, who now number nearly two-thirds of the total police force.

INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE

TO MEET FORCE WITH FORCE.

LABOUR LEADER'S ADVICE. A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Nov. 5. Mr. Tom Walsh, president of the Seamen's Union, addressing a meeting of striking police on Saturday, urged them Co meet force with force. He declared', that the world w« governed by force, and if they carried on with the same solidarity as they were doing they would show the Premier that he would fail. The Government was merely the spokesman of the capitalist class. The meeting decided to ask the cooperation of the Trades Hall Disputes Committee.

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

NOT TO BE POSTPONED.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 12.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE. Nov. 5. The committee of the Victoria Racing Club considered the postponement of the Melbourne Cup, in view of possible disorders, but decided to hold it as usual.

AN ANALOGY FOR LONDON.

EAST END AND WEST END.

Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Kecd. 5.40 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 5.

London newspapers give prominence to the Melbourne police strike. Sir Joseph Cook, High Commissioner, in an interview, emphasised that tho Melbourne police were not controlled by the Federal Government. He described the strike as purely local. Another Australian official, interviewed by the Daily Express, described tho situation as analogous to what would occur in the West End of London if it were known in the East End that tho police had gone on strike. <