FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21888, 25 August 1934, Page 8

FIFTY YEARS AGO

RIOT IN QUEEN STREET NEED TO STOP LARRIKINISM The need for adequate measures to cope with the larrikin element in the community was felt in Auckland 50 years ago. As a result of a riot in Queen Street, which was characterised by the police superintendent as the most disorderly scene in the history of the city, half a dozen men and youths were convicted on various charges. Fines varying from 10s to £4 and terms of imprisonment up to two months were imposed. The police stated the evil of larrikinism was fast growing in all colonial cities. The disturbance occurred when a party of hoodlums attempted to prevent the police arresting one of their number for drunkenness. Tho large crowd of -spectators, with a few exceptions, obstructed the constables. In a letter to the Herald of August 26, 1884, a correspondent stated: — "The disturbance on Saturday evening undoubtedly shows the necessity of some better organisation to deal with our increasing larrikin element, or some night wo shall find the town in the hands of a lot of unscrupulous roughs. The police station should be at once connected by telephone with the police so that in case of necessity all the , CO 'J" stabulary services could be obtained. The inadequate provision for police protection has been repeatedly brought under the notice of the Government, but it is the old story—save a few pence and scatter the pounds. Probably if the fire brigade did as is customary in continental cities, viz., bring the water pressure to bear on the crowd, it might tend considerably to cool the ardour of a lot of blackguards, who are only too ready to annoy and ill-use the police."