FOOD RIOTS IN DUNEDIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21539, 11 January 1932, Page 8

FOOD RIOTS IN DUNEDIN

AN UNPRECEDENTED OCCURRENCE WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE OF POLICE SCENES OF REGRETTABLE VIOLENCE Scenes unprecedented in the history of Dunedin were enacted in George street on Saturday morning when a situation in which resided all the possibilities of serious and dangerous rioting was saved from developing into an orgy of destruction by the commendably tactful and shrewdly understanding attitude of the police under the personal command of Superintendent Eccles. A hungry crowd of from 200 to 300 unemployed men, following on the refusal of their demands by the Otago Hospital Board, stormed the premises of one of the largest grocery establishments in the city with the intent to victual themselves to the extent to which they considered themselves entitled. At several times during tHe day things looked unquestionably ugly, and but for the praiseworthy action of the police it would, be difficult to speculate to what lengths the excesses of the rioters might have gone. One firm suffered losses aggregating about £IOO as a result of broken windows, to say nothing of business lost through an enforced closing of its premises at 1 1.30 on a Saturday morning, but it may be conjectured that with less competent and sympathetic handling by the police the loss would have been, spread over the shopping area of the city with disastrous results not only to property but possibly also to life and limb. Saturday was a day which the majority of the people of Dunedin would gladly erase from the annals of the city, but the fact remains that a section of the inhabitants, inflamed and enraged by the privations and hardships of the times, rose in active and dangerous rebellion against a state of affairs which they regarded as unjust and inequitable. The cry throughout the day was for work and the opportunity to live rather than for charity, and the excuse that was offered for the extreme measures adopted was the failure of sane and constitutional methods to attain the object for which, it was alleged, the day’s demonstration was organised—the provision of adequate food and sustenance to tide no fewer than 2000 men, women and children over the week-end. j

FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS CROWD BECOMES ENRAGED \ THE ADVANCE ON WARDELL’S When fewer than 150 men assembled in the Octagon at 10 o'clock for the parade to the offices of the Otago Hospital Board in Hanover street, there was little reason to suspect that the momentous and unforgettable scenes of the later forenoon would be enacted in George street.

Such continual rebuffs enraged the crowd, and Mr Braithwaite, after dramatic appeals to the police to arrest him as a protest against the treatment accorded his followers, called upon the mob to follow him. By this time the gathering had attained formidable dimensions, the clarion call of a well-played trumpet rendering “ The Reveille ” and “The Fall In” having overcome the timidity of many scores who had up to this point remained passive on the side walks.

Superintendent Eccles and the small force accompanying him had up to this stage worked wonders with the crowd, but their influence was not equal to the inflammatory character of the exhortations which punctuated the proceedings at the Hospital Board’s offices. The women who had so recently been refused sustenance adjured their men folk to go and take for themselves the necessaries which had been so definitely denied them. No further advice could be offered to a mob which had obviously decided to supply its wants by recourse to the doubtful and unsatisfactory expedient of looting. GROCERY STORE STORMED

It was a comparatively small and harmless-looking crowd which marched four deep along George street to the Hospital Board’s office. Reinforced at the corner of Hanover and George streets by scores of others who would not join in the procession the assemblage had a formidable appearance when it halted in front of the modest premises in Hanover street. In the foremost ranks of the crowd were dozens of women, for whom the officials of the Hospital Board did their best. As each one emerged from the building with the tale that no tiling could be done for the dependents of men who had received relief during the week, howls of indignation arose from a crowd of from 200 to 300 men, who were, with difficulty, held back from a violent assault on the premises by a pitifully-inadequate detachment of police, under the personal command of Superintendent Eccles. Mr S. W. Braithwaite at this stage addressed the crowd, and intimated the nature of the demands which the deputation wished to be conveyed to the board. It was required that men receiving three days’ work a week should get 15s worth of goods for the first, second, and third weeks of their employment, and £1 worth of goods for their stand-down week. It was also asked that two-and-a-half-day men should receive 12s 6d worth of goods for the three weeks of their employment, and 15s worth for their stand-down week. In respect of single men it was demanded that they should be given 7s Od worth of provisions for the first three weeks, and 10s worth for the standdown week. Mr Braithwaite urged that these were reasonable and fair demands, and pointed out that up to the present only reasonable and constitutional methods had been employed to achieve them. If they were refused now, it was up to the men themselves to find some way in which they could fill their wants.

Thus the cry went up, “ To Wardell’s.” Mr Braithwaite once again arranged his followers in marching order, and a move was made towards the largest grocery retail establishment in the city. Arrived at Warden’s, the mob found a cordon of police guarding the doors. The crowd, now numbering about 400, halted in front of the shop, and Mr Braithwaite reminded his hearers that every constitutional means or coercion known to them had failed. It was now up to to them to make the running for themselves. It was a “ rotten ” thing to do, but they had been driven to it, and the “ heads ” must take the consequences.

Superintendent Eccles, still using the tact and understanding which had characterised all his dealings with the crowd, endeavoured to dissuade them from their mad intention, but all to no purpose. Scarcely had he finished speaking when a, concerted rush was made on the front doors. There were no more than about half a dozen policemen to withstand the charge, but they stood their ground like heroes, and, after a desperate struggle, they warded off the attack of fully 150 men who were determined to enter the store and secure what they required. A large plate-glass window, valued at about £4O, was smashed, and when the crowd saw that the police officials were determined that no entrance should be effected in so violent a manner, brickbats and other such things began to fly. It was an anxious moment for the small force assembled round the doors of the emporium. Glass continued to fall, and missiles were hurled in complete disregard of the havoc they might wreak in the crowded entrance. A huge chunk of concrete, nine inches by six, was hurled from the sidewalk at one of the plain-clothes men, who suffered a severe leg injury, and for five minutes it seemed that nothing could save the store from being stormed. The police, however, withstood the mob at the risk of severe personal injury until a detachment of reinforcements arrived with batons for the whole force. Night shift men, suburban officers, and every policeman available was called up, and even then the defending forces seemed inadequate in numbers to meet a sustained and determined charge by the rioters. For a few minutes things settled down to an uncanny quiet. Something was undoubtedly brewing. A few rocks and brickbats were hurled from the back of the crowd and another surge towards the doorway commenced. The police linked arms and repulsed the attack. With remarkable and commendable restraint, acting under the directions of the Super-

A constable conveyed a statement of these demands to the secretary of the board (Mr J. Jacobs), and it was intimated in reply that the board could merely deal with individual necessitous cases on their merits. About two dozen women were sent in to state their cases, and in each instance applicants for assistance were “ turned down ” on the grounds that their husbands or breadwinners had received some degree of employment during the week.

intendent, no batons were drawn, sheer force of weight being used to turn back the tide which surged towards the now closed doors of the shop. Howls of execration and rage arose from the rear ranks, while the front rankers endeavoured to pacify the large proportion of their comrades who had obviously got out of hand.

THE FIRST COMPROMISE All sorts of suggestions were made, one being that two members of the mob should go into the store and interview Mr Wardell with a view to ascertaining whether he would undertake to victual the crowd over the week-end. Superintendent Eccles, who had already acted as spokesman of the crowd, interviewed Mr Wardell, and returned to announce that the proprietor was not willing to submit to intimidation. At that the hullabaloo broke out afresh, and a further move was made towards the shop. The police, still smiling and exhibiting all the good nature in the world, stood their ground, and no headway was made. Various speakers took the platform to suggest what should be done, but all asked the impossible, inasmuch as they demanded that work should be found for all with no charity. For half an hour the mob milled about in an agony of suppressed activity. Then it was stated that Mr R. D. Poison had offered to head a subscription list with a £lO note to provide for the crowd. A further 10s note was forthcoming, and the crowd began to quieten down until a few of the younger men commenced further agitation. A firm of grocers in South Dunedin undertook, on the guarantee of Mr Poison, to supply 800 parcels of the value of 5s each for the crowd, and it was announced that as soon as these parcels could be wrapped up they would be delivered at the Dowling street relief depot for distribution. The announcement was received with cries of mingled delight and annoyance, but on being assured that single and married men would participate alike, the crowd began to cheer.

For some time it looked as if the dis-

turbance might cease, but a gang of younger men saw to it that the feeling that had run so high should not abate. The milling of the mob began again, consequent on a fight between two of their kind, and the police were once again called upon to exercise all the restraint of which they were capable —restraint which was amazing in the extreme, considering the paucity of their resources. In the meantime, some of the ringleaders had left the mob in an attempt to find the deputy-Mayor and councillors, and any members of the Unemployment Committee who might be available. When they returned with the news that they could find no one, the task of the police was doubled. Again, the crowd began to move towards the shop, but the defence was too good. At this stage several speakers perched themselves precariously on a veranda pole to address the crowd, and the general counsel was one of restraint and Sanity. Mr John Gilchrist, after attacking on general principles the system that he alleged had brought the people to the pass in which they found themselves to-day, urged more moderate behaviour. , He suggested that the Labourers’ Union might have funds to assist the starving, and undertook to get into touch with the principals of the union. He spent nearly half an hour telephoning, and came back to report that there were no funds available. MOTOR VAN DESTROYED This announcement was the signal for further outbreaks. Happily they were either suppressed or discouraged. The hope that the crowd would disperse on the undertaking of Mr H. L. Paterson, a member of the Unemployment Committee, that everyone would have food for the week-end was doomed to disappointment when the mob commenced to mill again at 2.30, four and a-half hours after the commencement ot the disturbance. The crowd had been ill at case in itself for two hours, and at about 2.30 the tension broke. A private fight or two broke accelerated things, and the consequence was a general move towards the shop. Once again the police were equal to the demands made upon them, and all efforts to gain entrance to Messrs Wardell Bros, premises were frustrated, though not without difficulty. During the day all traffic in George street was held up. At one time no fewer than 16 trams were stationary, and all through traffic was blocked. The tram service was re-established by the cutting out of the George street section, but at times impetuous motorists tried to get through the throng. One van driver who made his way through the crowd regardless of the damage lie did paid dearly for his enterprise before the day was finished. The crowd chased him and tried to stop his progress but all in vain. The internal combustion engine demonstrated its superiority over the human frame. It was not until nearly two hours later that the crowd' had the chance to intercept the same van in its progress south. They stopped

it, and, having seen the driver make a hasty exit, they turned the vehicle upside down. Then they turned it back again. A small detachment of police did their best to protect the overturned van, but their efforts were in vain. The crowd reduced the van to a mass of ruin. Tvres were deflated. One en-

thusiast put his foot through the windscreen. Another tore parts of the engine to pieces, and all the time a dozen others attempted to turn its four wheels in the air. Finally, late in the evening, someone gave effect to the suggestion frequently made during the afternoon that a match should he put to the wreckage. On two occasions the Fire Brigade turned out to cope with outbreaks of this character, which, however, did not prove serious. As a re-

suit of the combined attacks on the lorry the vehicle was scarcely worth carrying away at tho end of the day. It is worth noting, however, that the motor lorry in question was attacked by the crowd for what was regarded as a very definite reason. . It was alleged 1 that in his hurry to get clear of the crowd, which resented his progress along the packed street, the driver knocked a woman down, and ran over her, besides unbalancing no fewer than half a dozen men. The crowd chased round corners and up hills to intercept their quarry, and finally upturned the machine, wreaking whatever havoc lay in their power and doing all but burning it, a proceeding which was eventually undertaken late in the evening. The police defence of private property according to their duty was wonderful. Time and time again the mob charged. The police were battered and knocked about, but they always came up smiling. It was remarkable that full-blooded men so treated could remain so true to the ethics of their calling as to remain calm and unruffled in the face of such violence. No better tribute could have been paid to them than that which was expressed by speakers who perched themselves on the dilapidated vehicle and sought justification for the extreme measures taken. “ The police,” they said, “have been marvellous, but this man deserved all he got.” The conduct of everyone throughout was a strange admixture of comedy and retribution. When the Rev. P, Paris mounted the fallen motor lorry to address the crowd they were in the humour to listen to anyone. His advice that, having gone so far, they should leave well alone was well received, but blandly ignored. It was a devastating scene in St. Andrew street, but it demonstrated in marked and unmistakable fashion the temper of a large section of the community, which is firmly of the opinion that it has not received its deserts. The rights and wrongs of this particular case of violence will he discussed more fully in court proceedings, which , it is understood will follow early in the coming week.

GROCERIES DISTRIBUTED There were scones of remarkable activity iu the Dowling street depot on Saturday night. The 800 parcels of groceries previously guaranteed were forthcoming, but in addition to these the citizens of Dunedin provided hundreds of other parcels of foodstuffs, vegetables and other necessaries. In fact for a time round about 4 and 5 p.m. the incomings equalled the outgoings. Every endeavour was made to supplement the supplies available, and in this respect every credit is due to the local YA broadcasting station, which made a wide and effective appeal to listeners-in to assisUin the great effort that was being made. 'The Rev, V. G. Bryan King, Mr H. L. Paterson, Mrs Baker, and their willing asistants, among whom must be included the representatives of the Salvation Army, are to be congratulated upon the manner in which they catered for the multifarious wants of as great a crowd of people as has ever required assistance in this city. Superintendent Eccles yesterday paid a tribute to the work of Mr R. D. Poison, the Rev. Bryan King, and the Rev. Percy Paris, Messrs John Gilchrist, and H. L. Paterson, and expressed his thanks for the invaluable assistance they had given the police during the day. He also thanked the authorities of Station 4YA for broadcasting appeals for percels of food, and all those citizens who so generously responded to the appeal. The work of those who assisted Mr King and Mr Paterson in the distribution of food from the relief depot was also worthy of the highest praise. FURTHER TROUBLE UNLIKELY Superintendent Eccles stated yesterday that he was convinced that no further trouble on the lines of Saturday’s demonstration would arise, the police authorities having the matter fully in hand.

IN THE CROWD SPEECH BY A LEADER A DEFIANT, NOISY GATHERING One of our reporters who mixed with the crowd in front of Warden's listened to some of the talk at an early stage of the proceedings. “If the trams' stop, nobody loses but the corporation,” said one individual. A tramdriver, seeing the way somewhat clear, started his car, but was not allowed to proceed. “ Stop her,” said a young man, who ran in front of the car, followed by others, and the way was blocked. The driver at once braked .he car, A woman who was caught in the rush was pulled out and escaped injury. To pass the time between pushes “ The Red Flag” was sung lustily. The Unemployment Committee was summoned when things were becoming ugly, and a meeting was held on the road. A quorum was-wanted —7 out of 13. Four members were already in attendance, and others were called for. Soon seven were present, and a member addressed the committee and the crowd.

“ We don’t want to do any damage,” lie said, “ We wan work for the men, so that they may get food for their families. If we get a promise of work wo will disperse the crowd at once. Everything will be done orderly and quietly. The crowd will disperse, but it is hard to deal with starving men.” Food was wanted, lie added, for the week-end.

“ Give us work,” “ Give us food,” were cries that came from the crowd. “ We’re not asking for booze,” said a man who, at the distance, had misheard the word “ fond.” “ I didn’t say booze,” said the first speaker, “ I said food.” Meanwhile the meeting of the committee proceeded, and it was proposed and seconded that two of the members should interview Mr Wardcll to see about supplies. At this, stage the crowd surged forward again, carrying the committee with it, and our reporter, who was swept to the side, heard no more of the committee’s deliberations.

It was this push that brought about the breaking of the large window to the right of the doorway. Several persons were pushed against it, and it fell in with a great crash. Fortunately no one was hurt by the falling glass. A policeman who was just in front of the broken window handled his baton, but did not use it, as the crowd at once receded.

DOWLING STREET DEPOT DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD The Rev. V. G. Bryan King, who, with Mr H. L. Paterson and Mrs G. M. Baker, organised immediate food relief on Saturday afternoon, stated last evening that the chief obstacle met with by those endeavouring to secure supplies of foodstuffs lay in the fact that all the provision shops were closed. However, with the aid of the telephone, and the splendid service rendered by the authorities at station 4YA, who broadcast appeals for food, within a short time of the appeal being made groceries, bread and vegetables were pouring in to the Dowling street depot literally by the hundredweight, some parcels coming from as far afield as Mosgiel. The generosity of Mr Poison, of the' Peninsula, who contributed 400 parcels of foodstuffs, also assisted the distributing officials greatly. Although only two hours wore available in which to organise relief measures, helpers flocked to the depot. It was a most spontaneous response. The response to the appeals made by telephone and radio showed that those in genuine need had the sympathy of the citizens of Dunedin.

“ The behaviour and gratitude of those who were assisted at the depot were beyond praise,” continued Mr King, “ but I feel sure that nothing will do more to alienate the sympathy of the citizens that a recurrence of the scenes which took place on Saturday. There is no doubt that many of the men are in sore straits, hut all of them must surely realise that attacks on persons and property will only injure their cause. Once they resort to these dangerous tactics they become law breakers and as such must be guarded against. Many of them are feeling the strain of the long period of depression and naturally become ready tools in the hands of those who deliberately incite them to violence.

“ Citizens must feel deeply grateful to Superintendent Eccles and the Police Force for the tactful manner in which they controlled an ugly situation,” said Mr King. “The men working on the unemployment scheme jobs are decent, lawabiding citizens, and I feel sure that

in future they will do nothing to lower the esteem in which they are held by all who know them. 1 am personally grateful to the large number of friends who answered our appeal, for with their assistance the depot was able to supply food to 700 or 800 distressed families.”

In conclusion, Mr King recalled the fact that the last riot which took place in Dunedin was 31 years ago, when an ugly demonstration took place in exactly the same part of George street. At that time the attentions of the crowd were bestowed on a shop on the opposite side of, the road to the scene of Saturday’s disturbance.

PROVISION OF FOOD GRANT BY HOSPITAL BOARD. The chairman of the Otago Hospital Board (Mr W. E. S. Knight) stated yesterday that the board had decided to grant £IOO towards the provision of food supplies to be distributed from the St. Andrew street depot. TELEGRAM FROM PRIME MINISTER The chairman of the Hospital Board on Saturday received the following reply to a telegram despatched by him on Friday to the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) urging that additional unemployment relief should be granted:— “Have received your telegram, and have noted your representations regarding unemployment position in Dunedin, which 1 will discuss with the Minister of Unemployment on his return to Wellington.” FACED WITH STARVATION POSITION OF SINGLE MEN. (Pee United Press Association ) WELLINGTON, January 9. Following a meeting of unemployed tills morning a Urge body of men went to the newspaper offices with a view to making a public statement on behalf of the men. Two were admitted to the premises of the Evening Post (Messrs T, Kelly and L. Farsloe). They said that the position of the relief workers and the unemployed had boeome intolerable. Rations and relief had been reduced, and now the single men were to get no work after February 13. The men were in a dilemma; they were faced with starvation. They were being thrown

out of their homes and were losing everything they had saved. The men thought that the period had been reached when the Unemployment Board could not give work, and that payment of sustenance should be made according to the provisions of the Act. In view of the winter some bold steps would have to be taken to provide for men, women, and children, and in lieu of sustenance there should he continuity of work.

No. 5 SCHEME ALLOCATIONS WORK FOR THE WEEK. The following work has been allocated for men working under the No. 5 scheme during the week: — * Men will report for work on Monday as under: — St Kilda Borough Council.—7.4s a.rn., at Scott street yard, group 108. Otago Education Board. —8 a.m., at Macandrew Road School, the following men of group 157: —Andrews, Austin, Carney, Collett, Ireland, Keen, MTCay, Mercer, Murdoch, O’Brien, Racklcy, Reekie, Sharkey, Smith. Ocean Beach Domain.—B a.m., at Band rotunda, St. Kilda, group 147. Otago Harbour Board.—B a.m., at Leith bridge, Harbour terrace, groups 101. 102, D.C.C. Reserves Department.—B a.m., at Knox street, Opoho, groups 155, 406, 503, 504, 505, 509; 8 a.m., at croquet pavilion, Montecillo group 31. City Corporation Works Department. —Groups to commence 8 a.m. Monday: 11, Eglinton road, at" Neidpath road; 120, Hadfield street, off Opoho road; 123, Gardner street, at Elgin road; 124, North Taieri road, at Flagstaff road, Taieri County; 130, North road, one mile and a-half above tram terminus; 133, Wakari road, at Ross Creek; 135, Tainui road, at Dundonald street; 138, Queen’s drive, at Russell street; 140, Norwood street, three-quarter mile above tram terminus; 141, Woodhaugh street, at quarry; 145, Wharf street, at French street; 148, Musselburgh Rise, at Bayfield road; 205, Como street, at Queen’s drive, Maori Hill; 209, Caversham Valley road, at Aberfeldy street; '212, North road, at Opoho road; 213, Wharf street, at French street; 214, Pine Hill road, at Orbell street; 215, North road, half-mile below Clegliorn street; 216, Queen’s drive, at City road; 533, Wharf street, at French street; 544, Wharf street, at French street. To commence 12.30 Tuesday: 22, Eglinton road, at Neidpath road. To commence 12.30 Wednesday: 42, Tainui road, at Dundonald street; 48, Musselburgh Rise, at Bayfield road; 129, Black Head road, at Paterson’s homestead; 132, Wharf street, at French street; 134, Woodhaugh street, at quarry; 136, Gardner street, at Elgin road; 142, North Taieri road, at Flagstaff road, Taieri County; 144, Queen’s drive, at Russell street; 140, Norwood street, three-quarter-mile above tram terminus.

To commence 8 a.m. Thursday: 20, North road, half-mile below Cleghorn street; 23, Eglinton road, at Neidpath road; 30, North road, one mile and a-half above tram terminus; 34, Queen’s drive, at City road; 36, Como street, at Queen’s drive, Maori Hill; 40, Hadffeld street, off Opoho road; 47, Caversham Valley road, at Aberfeldy street; 49, North road, at Opoho road; 51, Wharf street, at French street; 55, Wharf street, at French street.