NEW SOUTH WALES PITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20930, 21 January 1930, Page 9

NEW SOUTH WALES PITS

DISPUTE DRAGGING ON. THE LABOUR DEFENCE ARMY. STEPS FOR SUPPRESSION. V (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) 1 SYDNEY, January 20. The correspondence between Mr Bavin and Mr Scullin regarding the Labour Defence Army has been published. Mr Bavin asked the.. Prime Minister to issue a proclamation, under the Crimes Act forbidding the drilling of persons in the use ‘of arms or in military exorcise. Mr Scullin replied that there was nothing to show that the New South Wales police force was inadequate for the maintenance of order. Mr Bavin said the police force was adequate, but it would • be 7 greatly assisted by the issue of a proclamation. _ The State Government has now deto take action to secure the suppression of tile organisation on the ground that it is , illegal. THE ROTHBURY RIOT. CHARGES AGAINST MINERS. SYDNEST, January 20. (Received Jan. 21, at 1,45 a.m.) _ A sensational story of the Rothbury riot, when one miner was killed, was told at the Maitland Court to-day, when 11 miners were charged with having, on December 16, taken part in an unlawful assembly and having torn up the Branxton railway line. The magistrate decided to deal with the cases separately, and Edward Auburn was convicted and fined £5, in default cne mCnth’s imprisonment. The police evidence was to the effect that revolver .bullets were first fired from the crowd which stormed the colliery. Several thousand men, armed with sticks and stones, and uttering the vilest threats, tried in vain to reach the volunteer workers. “Let’s kill Weaver” (who is Minister of Mines) was a notable threat. SCENE AT SYDNEY DOMAIN. DEMONSTRATORS SCATTERED. SYDNEY, January 20. There was a remarkable scene at the Domain yesterday, when the Workers’ Defence Army was endeavouring to stage demonstrations against the police control of the coalfields. The demonstrators were scattered by swift police rushes. Banners were captured and destroyed in the view of thousands of spectators. From the tops of police cars the officers shouted directions to their men, and the crowds dispersed before the repeated charges. Mr J. O’Brien, formerly organiser of the Volunteer Timber Workers’ Association, had his stand at the Domain overturned. He was being severely manhandled when he was rescued by the police. POLICE AND MINERS. FIGHT WITH FISTS SUGGESTED. SYDNEY, January 20. Mr James, M.P., in a speech at Cessnock said the police would bo marked men for all time if they caused bloodshed. Mr James added that members of the police force should throw away their arms and batons. and meet the miners in equal numbers and fight with fists.