MAKING CITY SAFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21160, 18 April 1932, Page 10

MAKING CITY SAFE.

POLICE ORGANISATION.

COMPLETE AND EFFECTIVE

VISIT OF COMMISSIONER. REASSURINC STATEMENT. A hurried visit to Auckland was made during tho week-end by Mr. W. G. Wohlmann, Commissioner of Police. Mr. "YVohlmann arrived by aeroplane from Wellington early on Saturday evening, find returned by air at mid-day yesterday. The commissioner made an inspection of Queen Street, and Karangahapo Road on Saturday evening, and also visited other parts of the city. He had a long interview with Mr. S. Till, superintendent of police at Auckland, and was soon thoroughly familiar with the measures taken to preserve law and order. Before his departure for Wellington, the commissioner expressed himself thoroughly satisfied with tho organisation controlled by Mr. Till.

Mr. Wohlmann mado the following statement"l hav o personally acquainted myself with tho precautionary measures taken by the police and I can assuro tho public that they aro very complete and effective. Every means possible has been taken to maintain law and order and protect properly. The authorities aro determined that no stone will ho left, unturned in making the city safe. Tho organisation in Auckland is very complete, and it- is believed to be ample and adequate to deal with tho situation. Wo will not rest until all signs of disorder are rigorously repressed. "Wo appeal to all decent citizens to keep off tho streets as much as possible until (ho trouble subsides. Groups of peoplo on tho streets, particularly women, greatly hamper the work of the police in keeping tho thoroughfares clear, and they increase (ho risk of damage to property. Hoodlums tako advantage of the presence of groups and use them as a cover for their riotous behaviour. Tho police wish to take stern measures against the rioters and they can do so only if access to them is clear.

"Tlio support of the public (o the call for aid lias been very helpful. Great numbers have been enrolled and they Jiave been of the utmost advantage in maintaining the law. Wo aro greatly indebted to those who liavo come forward in the hour of need.

"Already there are signs that the agitation is on the wane. Tlio position in other centres is quiet and Auckland is the only place where a disturbance has occurred. The measures taken should prove sufficient to deal with it."

DAMAGE TO WINDOWS.

KARANGAHAPE ROAD AREA. MANY PREMISES SUFFER. Considerable damage was clone to shop windows in Karangahape Road by rioters on Friday evening. Some of the larger establishments, such as George Court and Sons, Ltd., and Hallenstein Bros., Ltd.. had numbers of their windows smashed by flying missiles. The area in which premises suffered extended from the Waitemata Fish Mart at the eastern end of Karangahape "Road to West Street, about a quarter of a mile distant. Distribution of damage was even, 22 premises on the south side of Karangahape Road being affected and 21 on the north side. The following firms had their windows broken: —

South Side.—Masco, Ltd., drapers; 'Hop Wall and Company, fruiterers; Offer's Nos. 1 and 2 shops, boot importers; Jennings (unoccupied premises), corner of Karangahape Road and Belgium Street; R. B. Brown, furnishers, Belgium Street; C. Wing Chong and Company, fruiterers; Woohvorths (N.Z.), Ltd.; "i3nrbara," frocks; Rendells, Ltd., drapers; George Court and Sons, Ltd., outfitters; Hallenstein Brothers, Ltd., clothiers; Bradstreets, Ltd., drapers; J. R. McKonzie, Ltd.; Jones Bros., jewellers ;. Pritchard's, ladies' outfitters; Blue and White Self Helf, Ltd., grocers; the American Picture Framing Company; Hannah and Company, boot importers; Read Bros., jewellers; Home Furnishers, Ltd.; Kwang Kai and Company, fruiterers.

North Side.—Waitcmata Fish Mart; Falkner and Company, outfitters; Misses McCabe, milliners; Stevens, Ltd., hardware; 0. J. Melvern, merchant; The Bristol Piano Company, Ltd.; Mystery Shoo Store; Dominion Wines, Ltd.; "Dorothy," baby outlUter; House of Flacksou, Ltd., drapers; 'J'onson Garlick, Ltd., furniture dealers; Maypole Stores, grocers; Tung Kon Company, Ltd., fruiterers; Airs. Baker, milliner; Ashleys, Ltd., drapers; Auckland Gas Company, Pitt Street branch; George Pearce, men's outfitters, Pitt Street; R. and W. Hcllaby, Ltd., butchers; J. Harrison, confectioner; John Bull, footwear; E. Maud, jeweller.

MOVEMENTS 0E WARSHIPS. REMAINING IN WELLINGTON. COMPLETE PREPARATIONS. [BY TELEGKAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Government is understood to have arranged for tho warships of tho New Zealand Division to remain in Wellington in tho meantime, and it is believed it is fully prepared to utilise tho services of armed naval detachments should tho emergency arise.

Although these intentions are recognised as serious in the extreme, tho Government is definitely of tho opinion that the situation that has developed in Auckland will not warrant tho taking of halfmeasures.

The Wellington civic authorities have been in touch with tho Government with a view to complete co-operation in tho event of trouble.

PEPPER AND AMMONIA.

THROWN AT NAVAL MEN. KARANGAMAPE ROAD INCIDENTS. '1 hn use of new weapons by rioters was revealed in two incidents during the disturbances in Kurangahapo J toad on Friday evening. In both cases (lie attacks were made on naval parties. During tine period of disorder, naval men were rushed up, and the officer in charge a missile strike his steel helmet. Tho next instant, a cloud of pepper had obscured his vision. Luckily (lie bag containing the pepper did not, filrikc him in the face, but as it, was his eyes were injured to some extent. The second incident occurred shortly after. A party under Lieutenant-Com-mander Berry way dealing with another incipient, outbreak when a bottle was thrown from the crowd. One of the naval ratings, Leading-Seaman Chadwick, caught it in mid-air, and if was found to lie full "f liquid ammonia.