FRACAS AT MIDNIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21403, 30 January 1933, Page 8

FRACAS AT MIDNIGHT

USE OF BATONS AND STONES FREE WORKERS AMBUSHED An attack last Thursday night on free labourers employed at the Islington freezing works provided the township of Islington, near Christchurch, with one of the most startling experience in its history. For two hours after midnight, says the Christchurch Star, there, were wild scenes, a mob of men numbering up to 30 calling on others to come out and fight. Ambushed on their way home from a dance, two free labourers, Messrs. F. Hack and W. Gread, were set upon by a mob of 20 men. Mr. Hack received a nasty cut on the forehead and had his car torn. Mr. Gread, who was fleet of foot, outdistanced his attackers and reached tho boarding house, rousing the sleeping occupants with cries of "Help" and "Murder."

A few minutes after his arrival Mr. Hack, bleeding from his wounds, reached the boarding house in an exhausted state. Hard behind him came an angry mob of men, shouting maledictions on the heads of all free labourers and filling the air with their curses. In a short time police arrived on the scene and the attackers broke for cover. When the police went away the men returned in greater numbers and there were wild scenes, which did not subside until after two o'clock this morning. Some of the men were armed with batons torn from a fence and others carried stones. A party of four men were stoned shortly before two o'clock, and about that hour a stone was thrown through the open window of a railway worker's house. The son of the railwayman is employed at the freezing works. Fortunately the occupant of the room was not struck by the stone, which landed near the lied after bitting the wall opposite the window. The police were summoned after some minutes, and there was a general scatter for dark places and shelter by the attacking party.