RIOTOUS UNEMPLOYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 13

RIOTOUS UNEMPLOYED.

PERTH POLICE SUFFER.

PROCESSION OUT OF HAND.

RINGLEADERS ARRESTED.

[FROM OUB OWN COt'.nESPOVDENT.] SYDNEY, July 25,

In spite of its apparent prosperity ia many directions, Western Australia has its unemployed in common with all tho other States, and the position that has been developing there for some months now is a serious one. Western Australia is not a wealthy State, but it lias dona more than tho of her States to conserve its resources, and live somewhere within its revenue. It has placed more people on the land during the last 18 months than any of tho other States. In fact, it has come in for so much praise that scores of men in the Eastern States who found difficulty in securing work have migrated to the West, and it was not long, therefore, before Western Australia had an unemployment problem that it did not deserve.

The unemployed were organised and in' flamed, and the smouldering discontent flared up the other day, when there was an attack by the workless mob on the police There was a skirmish at first, but a wild melee outside the central police station later resulted in the arrest of 14 men. Although the police had necessarily to defend themselves, they exercised admirable restraint, and succeeded in coping with the situation without having to use their batons. Several leaders of the unemployed men endeavoured to restrain them, but it was probable that propaganda had sunk in too deep. An Ugly Scene. The trouble began shortly before 10 a.m. The unemployed had arranged a demonstration and a procession, and they had been given permission to march along a certain route. When they came to an intersection, someone shouted, "Straight ahead." Straight ahead would have brought the men into a prohibited area, and the way was blocked by 12 policemen. Shouting imprecations at the police

the ringleaders endeavoured to hustle tliem out of the way. A scuffle ensued, during which Inspector Johnston was stnick on the nose, and three of the men, including the secretary of the unemployed, were arrested

j A small, body of police then succeeded' ,in forcing the unemployed along tha original route. Then the men conferred, and decided to return to the police station iin an endeavour to rescue their com- , rades, who, they considered, had been wrongfully arrested. At the police station a parley ensued, during which they demanded that the arrested men should b« released. This demand, of course, was refused, and an ugly scene followed. The men attempted to force their way into the station, but 20 constables quickly formed a cordon and held them in check. Blows fell fast on the police, and Inspector Douglas was struck several times on the body. Meanwhile mounted policy had been summoned, and six troopers succeeded in dispersing the mob by spurring their horses into their midst. Several men were arrested, despite strenuous attempts to prevent it. Action of " a Few Hot Heads." At this stage the demonstrators moved to a vacant allotment nearby, where another scuffle with the police took place, and six more men were arrested. Several of them struggled desperately while they were being taken to the lock-up. The men then discovered that five of their committee of six were in custody, and it was decided to disperse and reassembla at the Trades Hall' for the purpose of electing a new committee. After the election the new committee resolved that there should be no more demonstrations until after the arrested men had appeared before the Court.

Later in the day the secretary of tha unemployed said that the committee d 3» plored the happenings. They were duo, ho said, to the action of a few hot heads. A definite promise had bepn made to tho police that the men would keep to the route laid down, but the appearance of » large squad of police at the intersectioa seemed to arouse resentment among some. They were all sorry now.