POLICE STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19010, 5 November 1923, Page 7

POLICE STRIKE

VIOLENCE IN MELBOURNE. DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS EVIDENCES OF HOOLIGANISM. Pwm Association—By Telegraph- Copyright MELBOURNE, November 3. Dramatic developments followed the refusal of the day police to commence their duties. Police were hurriedly conveyed from country centres, but on arrival at headquarters joined the strikers, and were discharged. Unruly crowds blocked tho principal thoroughfares at night, with an everpresent tendency towards hooliganism. A detachment of loyal police was hemmed in at a sub-depot at the Town Hall by a trowd of 900, but cleared a passage by playing a fire hose on the human mass. A detachment of forty police paraded Swanston street with batons drawn to keep the crowd in order. The strikers refused the request of the Victoria Racing Club that a squad of police bo permitted to go to Flemington to regulate the traffic. UNCONDITIONAL RETURN DEMANDED. 1 CLASHES BETWEEN LOYALISTS AND PUBLIC. REPORTED SPREAD OF TROUBLE. MELBOURNE, November 3. Tire strikers adopted a resolution m condemnation of tho system of espionage, and, in view of repeated requests for its abolition, regretted the necessity for the present action. The strikers are prepared to resume, provided there is no victimisation and fair consideration is given to their grievances. Mr Lawson states that the Ministry was in constant session till a late hour. It was decided to form a citizens’ corps to co-operate with the Government and tho loyal members of the force. The Ministry views with the gravest! concern the action of certain men w'ho, while under oath, deliberately refused duty, thus striking at tho foundation of ordered government. Such action cannot be tolerated by any Government worthy of the name. It is unthinkable that the police should take the law in their own The Ministi-y is taking proper precautions to safeguard life and property, and calls on all citizens to help in the preservation of peace. Representatives of the strikers asked Mr Lawson to renew the offer of the previous night. Tire Premier refused, adding: “It is too late easily to overlook the action. The only terms the Ministry will offer are that the men return to their duties unconditionally.” In consequence of clashes between loyalists and the public, 12 civilians are in' hospital suffering from injuries from batons. It is reported that the tramway men may join the strike to-day. LAWLESSNESS LET LOOSE. MELBOURNE TERRORISED. WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE AND LOOTING. MELBOURNE, November 4. (Received Nov. 4, at 5.5- p.m.) An unparalleled scene resulting from the police strike was witnessed in Bourhe and Swanston streets, the loyalist police being savagely attacked by crowds, who smashed the shop windows and looted premises. A small party of bluejackets made an unsuccessful effort to protect the shops, but were so severly handled that all of them were injured. A tram was pushed from the rails and the passengers thrown out and trampled on. A tire brigade then dashed through the crowd and scattered it, but this measure was only temporarily effective. The rioting continued, the trams being compelled to stop. Many plate-glass windows f were smashed. A man was-pushed through one window and had his throat terribly gashed. Fifty-seven casualties were treated in hospital as a result of the rioting. •At one stage of the disorder a corporal of the citizen forces appeared carrying a rifle. He was greeted with yells of rage and knocked down and the rifle taken from him. A hundred special constables were enrolled at the Town Hall, and with the aid of the police who remained loyal the rowdv element was routed. When it was reported to the naval authorities that sailors had been injured, a patrol was despatched from the destroyers, rushed to the scene in taxicabs, and rescued their comrades. Thousands of pounds worth of goods were looted from shops, the thieves carrying the proceeds of their robberies openty through the streets. The rioting continued till after 9 o'clock, the crowd getting more and more out of hand. Finally the police and specials fired a volley in the air, and after repeated charges with batons drove the crowd before them. As night wore on the rioting became more and more unrestrained, and the looting increased, jewellers’ shops being the first to sutler. Cabinet asked the managements of various entertainments to call for returned soldiers to stop the looting. This was done, and men responded freely. Later the disorder became more pronounced, mobs unrestrainedly looting and damaging property. They rushed the theatres, terrified audiences listening quakingly to the sounds of revolver shots and breaking glass. So far one death has been reported, a man being found in a dying condition in the street. Later in the evening the crowd attacked Collins street, gangs of hooligans parading up and down with booty on their shoulders, which they commenced to auction in the street, buyers being freely forthcoming. By a late hour at night the police had the position well in hand, various gangs dispersing, although not without serious fighting. The Police Association has carried a resolution urging the police to return to duty immediately in the public interests and to submit their grievances to arbitration During the height of the rioting b2 people were treated in hospital in an hour. No estimate of the damage is possible, though it must amount to many thousands of pounds. In one shop alone £3OOO worth of jewellery was lost.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

RACING RESULTS DELAYED. (Piiß United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 4. The result of the Victorian Derby was delayed through an unfortunate hold-up of the Australian Government telegraph lines, and did not reach Wellington till too late for despatch to any but a few stations. The cause of the clelay so far is unexplained, but it is surmised that it is possibly associated with troubles arising trom the disorders prevailing in Melbourne yesterday. THREE VIOLENT DEATHS. THE WEEK-END TOLL. MELBOURNE, November 4. (Received Nov. 5, at 1.20 a.m.) The rioting continues. The crowd is thoroughly out of hand, and the loyal police are powerless, the militia being called out. During the week-end* there were three violent deaths. A young man who is unidentified was found in a park with his heUd battered. Two men were attempting to enter a wine cafe in the city when an altercation occurred with the proprietor. Two shots were fired, one of the intruders being killed and the other wounded. The proprietor surrendered to the police, but no charge was laid against him. Following a quarrel on a steamer two seamen came to blows. One named Danks was thrown to the deck, where the other strangled him. He was captured by the ship’s officers at the revolver point.