SYDNEY'S UNDERWORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 6

SYDNEY'S UNDERWORLD.

DESPEBADOES WITH GUNS.

OPEN DEFIANCE OF LAW. AGITATION FOR RESTRICTION! [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY, Jan. 28. With Sydney, in the environs of its "gangland," in the incipient stages of becoming a miniature Chicago, if it is not already a little Chicago in some quarters, the politicians will incur the well-merited censure of the community if they ignore the agitation for the tightening of the Act with regard to the possession of firearms. Outward evidences of Sydney's underworld and its vendettas under "gangland" rules it is difficult, if not impossible!, to find. One can walk at night through "darkest Sydney" arid be impressed by its quietness —possibly a brooding quiet—and by its external suggestion of respectability. He might even be inclined to believe that all the talk of Sydney's "gangland" is so much sensationalism. The fact remains that, beliind the scenes, Sydney has its A 1 Capones —poor fry, no doubt, when compared with the American gangster —and they are just as dangerous as, if a little less blatant than, the Chicago type. And they will, continue to be a menace, in the community as long ag paternal Governments allow them to carry guns. The remark is often pas:;ed in Sydney when the doings of the underworld are chronicled "in the press, "Why not let them exterminate themselves ? Let them blaze away; stage a rea! Chicago j;how and get it over." It sounds all right, but the position is assuming such proportions as might make law-abiding citizens the innocent victims of these indiscriminate shooting affrays. Reform involves, in tfc» first place, the recognition of the fact that criminals possess firearms for the purpose of using them, and, in most cases, on the slightest provocation. The opinion is openly attributed in a section of the Sydney press to a high authority that it was absolutely wrong for a well-known figure in the underworld —whom the authority in question is said to have named—to be allowed to travel about the city with a rifle in the back of his car. To get a revolver in Sydney appears to be the simplest thing in the world. There have been several recent cases where children have been found playing with them. A fully-loaded, ugly-look-ing weapon was found on a boy when he wa§ searched after having been arrested for alleged robbery. He explained that ho had found it.

In spite of police precautions to curtail the issue of revolver licences in New South Wales, figures show that permits have increased during the last 12 months by more than 2500. The average for last year was 50 new permits and 300 renewals a week, ■with a total registration of 18,000 revolvers.

The magistrates have awakened to the position. One of them recently ordered a man to enter into a heavy bond to be of good behaviour for two years for having an unlicensed revolver in his possession.