MOB RULE AT FREMANTLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17634, 26 May 1919, Page 9

MOB RULE AT FREMANTLE

VIOLENCE OPENLY PRACTISED.

SPECULATIONS AS TO GOVERNZvIENT'S INTENTIONS.

(Feoji Oub Otra Coiieesponkent.) SYDNEY, May 12. Ail unsettled and serious condition of affairs continues at Fremantlo. The wharf lumpers and their sympathisers, having gained a temporary victory over the police and authority, are displaying all the brutality, tyranny, and license common to the Bolshevists -when they get loose. They have persecuted the Nationalists— the men who worked the wharves during • the seamen's strike, who were granted preference, and whose continued presence' there has caused 1 the present outbreak by the extreme unionists—in a cruel and, barbarous maimer. Not content with getting possession of -fie wharves, they have followed the Nationalists into their homes and assaulted them- just as the blood-mad Bolshevists of Russia hunted and earterminaied the people of the better classes.

A meeting of Nationalists was advertised at a place called Subiaco. Then came a rumour that the lumpers were to come in force from Fremantle and break up the meeting. The Mayor thereupon refused a permit for the holding, of the meeting, and it was abandoned. No Nationalists a/p----pcared, but at 8 o'clock there duly arrived a contingent of drunken lumpers and their sympathisers. The Mayor appeared and told them that he had cancelled the meeting. The foiled mob thereupon turned in wrath upon the unfortunate Mayor and attacked him savagely. Jtle was knocked down, struck, and kicked. He fought free and da-shed into a tobacconist's shop, the howling lumpers in pursuit. The unhappy official - went out through the back door scaled two backyard fences and got'clear away. The mob then amused iteelf- bv marching, up and down the mnin street singing and howling, an d searching for the houses of Nationalists. The mob's leaders afterwards sought out and apologised to tho Mayor. They appeared to think—such' is their extraordinary viewpoint—that they had mado an ample explanation when they said that their followers had mistaken the Mayor for ono of the Nationalists. Here- is how,a writer in the West Australian describes the position in the west: i For some months past revolution and violence has b?en openly advocated. A lawless spirit has spread and is still spreading, but no organised attempt is made to check it or prevent it, What has happened in Fremantle will happen again with graver and more fatal results if wo do not act ' promptly. Intimidation is rampant, money is demanded from our shopkeepers, and tho mob is exhorted to "note" those who do not subscribe.. Our business men arc ordered not to serve or supply goods to men engaged on public duty. Citizens aro chased through the streets and savagely assaulted. Anonymous letters are sent to public men and others threatening them with personal violence. Bcoause those gruilty of • jese acts are allowed to go unpunished, they become more defiant. Surely it is time for some of our responsible citizens to do whatever is necessary to put an end to tho present reign of terror.

Other information shows that this is not an exaggerated account of what is going on in the west. But it is not known whether the Government there has weakly abandoned its authority or whether—which is more likely—it, having suffbred a setback, is quietly concentrating oil its forces before Ir,a ' cin K a sruddan attack upon the mob and re-establishing authority. It may br* romembered that when a mob took possession of Auckland waterfront in 1913, and fat mi a gimolar sort of tyrranical rule, nearlv two weeks elapsed _ before the Government got together sufficient forces to put an end to anarony.