UNREST IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21111, 19 February 1932, Page 9

UNREST IN SYDNEY.

NEW GUARD'S ACTIVITY.

FEARS OF AN UPHEAVAL.

THREAT FROM UNEMPLOYED

By Telecraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received February 18, 11.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. Feb. 18. Exceptional activity on the, part of the members of the New Guard is causing considerable interest. Evening meetings, mobilisation drill and secret rehearsals of manoeuvres along military lines in various suburbs of Sydney are provoking hot protests in the Labour newspapers. There is even talk of kidnapping the Premier, Mr. Lang.

The unexpected arrival of tho police last evening checkmated a gathering of 2000 New Guardsmen at Fairfield, an outer suburb. Whatever their plans were they were not disclosed so the police contented themselves with making note of the number plates of the large fleet of motorcars in which the men had travelled to their rendezvous.

There is a general feeling in the community that the New Guardsmen anticipate some form of trouble shortly and that if may synchronise with the opening of the harbour bridge in which they are desirous that Mr. Lang shall not take p;frt. Tho unrest in the community may be gauged from a speech marie at Goulburn bv Mr. J. Ownes, leader of a deputation of unemployed men to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. J. M. Tully, seeking lurthei food relief. Mr. Ownes said that unless something were done in the next three months there would be one of tho gravest upheavals in the Commonwealth. Mr. Tully replied that the Government regarded Uie issue of food relief as an insurance against a revolution.

NEW GUARD LEADER.

FORCES OF REVOLUTION.

STRONG WARNING UTTERED. (Received February 1!). 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 18. In an address to a huge meeting of New Guardsmen in the Sydney Town Hall this evening Colonel Eric Campbell declared that overwhelming tragedy was facing this country. But if the forces of revolution attempted anything the New Guard, which was always on the alert, would be prepared without so much as the loss of one life, to take over and control the State of New South Wales.

The time was rapidly coming when the police force here would have to choose whether they would have the Union Jack or the red flag flying over Government Buildings. He was quito sure the police had already made their decision.