UNRULY DEMONSTRATORS

Otago Witness, Issue 4014, 17 February 1931, Page 18

UNRULY DEMONSTRATORS

PARADE OF UNEMPLOYED. BARRAGE OF BRICKS AND STONES. POLICE RETALIATE WITH BATONS. AUCKLAND, February 10. Amid flying bricks the Auckland police used their batons at noon to-day to quell a serious disturbance which occurred near the Chief Post Office. Four arrests were made. Two police sergeants were injured, one being knocked down and kicked and the other hit on the temple by p flying brick. A parade of unemployed was dispersing in front of the General Post Office. A large crowd had gathered and was blocking the thoroughfare. There were present several members of the Police Force, and with startling suddenness blows were exchanged between the demonstrators and a man in uniform. This was the signal for a rush by a number of men, and an officer was assaulted when he was tackling a civilian, presumably a member of the unemployed. Angry shouts came from several spectators and had the effect of inciting other men amongst the demonstrators to come to blows with the police. Batons were at once drawn and used vigorously by the police and a number of the men were seen to hold their heads. Two or three were taken into custody after fierce struggles, and for a short time there was nothing to be heard but the booing and shouts of “Go for them ” from the speefators who were some distance from the actual scene of the fighting.

The situation again became quiet and the police were moving away with the arrested men when suddenly from the right-of-way leading to the old station a fusillade of bricks and stones was trained on the direction of the police. Several constables had their helmets knocked off, while another wfts seen to suffer a severe blow near the kidneys. This was the signal for a really ugly scene, and while the policemen rushei with their batons at the assailants, laying about them with much vigour, they continued to be targets for a barrage of stones from their assailants hidden by the large crowd of spectators. At this stage heavy reinforcements of police arrived and the situation soon became normal.

The Labour Bureau behind the Post Office was bombarded with bricks, windows being shattered.

During the height of the riot many of the demonstrators resorted to extremely dangerous and thoughtless tactics, and the fact that several innocent parties were not injured was fortunate, as missiles, mostly bricks and large stones, were hurled aimlessly and indiscriminately in the direction of the police. Very ugly temper was displayed by many of those present throughout the fracas. One squad of police in charge of senior officers began to sweep along the footpath in front of the post office in an endeavour to drive the crowd back, but their numbers were insufficient to clear the locality. The temper of some of the men in the crowd was decidedly ugly. Excitement was running high, and there were fears of another clash on a much bigger scale. According to a police officer the men were gathered round the newly-estab-lished unemployment bureau at the old railway station, and when advised to move on they refused to do so. The cry went up: “Come on, let us break the windows.” Sergeant Clist called on those who made this suggestion to stop,

and was promptly rushed. In the general scuffle that ensued the sergeant was knocked to the ground and kicked in the tussle, in which a number of other policemen became engaged with batons unleashed. Sergeant Miller was struck by a flying brick. There were about half a dozen employees of the Auckland Labour Department in the bureau when the incident occurred, and they were showered with bricks. Practically every window in the bureau, which had been shifted to new quarters only this morning, was broken, and. records, inkwells, and other office paraphernalia were scattered on the floor by the bombardment. The officials dived under tables for protection, and all escaped without injury except G. W. Coppell, who received slight cuts on the head. POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS. EIGHT PERSONS CHARGED. AUCKLAND, February 11. While the story of yesterday’s riot was being told to Mr Woodward, S.M., this morning, a fair-sized crowd of unemployed surged round the Police Court. A posse of police—four being mounted—wag needed to keep the crowd in order. Seven men and one woman were charged on various counts, mostly with inciting lawlessness, and as the evidence was being heard there was frequent booing from the crowd outside the court. Large numbers of people sat on the slopes of Albert Park, and many contributed to the general demonstration. Two other men have been arrested in connection with yesterday’s riot, making 10 in all.

The first case heard was against Alfred rowler, aged 59, who entered the dock to answer charges of obstructing a constable, behaving in a disorderly manner, and inciting and encouraging lawlessness and disorder in a public place. He pleaded not guilty to all counts. Detective Sergeant Kelly gave a long description of the fracas. “It is unfortunate that the unemployed are taking up this attitude of lawlessness,” said Detective Sergeant Kelly, “ because hat follows such scenes as were seen yesterday is nothing short of disastrous. In the case of Fowler, his conduct was largely responsible for the excitement and the state of the crowd.” “ Some of them were armed with bricks and bolts,” said Constable Ganes. “ When Fowler was arrested the mob tried to free him, and we had to fight our way out as best we could. I had no baton, and as far as I know the old man was not struck with a baton.” “ I was commanding officer of the procession,” said Patrick Quill, an out-of-work engineer, who was arrested this morning, and who gave evidence for the defence. “ I took the procession almost to the front of the poet office in military formation. Then I dismissed them. When the sergeant drew his baton the police rushed us. In my opinion, the intention of the police" was to incite the men. The whole police force charged.” Quill said that 60 per cent, of the unemployed were ex-service men. Mr Kelly: And what about the Labour Defence Corps? Quill: That body is to protect the workers from the attacks of thugs. Mr Kelly: How long have you been in this country?—Two years. Are you a member of the Communist Party?—No. nor do I attend their meetings. For obstructing the police Fowler was fined £2. . The magistrate said he considered him irresponsible. He did not incite the mob maliciously, but lost his head.

After evidence had been heard against William John Dalglish, aged 22. he was convicted, sentence being deferred. Percy Wilshere, aged 36, was also convicted of inciting and obstructing the police, sentence being deferred. Charges of throwing stones to the danger of persons, of inciting and encouraging lawlessness, and of behaving in a disorderly manner were brought against George Johnston, aged 21. He pleaded guilty to throwing a stone. " You have made a clean breast of this, and you have expressed regret. There is that much in your favour,” said the magistrate. Johnston was convicted, and sentence was deferred.

Ernest Mathew Roiall, aged 22, was also convicted on charges of inciting lawlessness and behaving in a disorderly manner. He will be sentenced with the rest.

Harry Powell, aged 21, was convicted and remanded on a charge of obstructing a constable by pulling at his tunic. Powell was also convicted on charges of damaging a police helmet and obstructing Sergeant Clist.

The constable described the accused as the ringleader and the most troublesome of all.

A married woman named Violet Grace Robinson, a domestic, who admitted hurling a brick through the Labour Bureau office window, denied inciting and behaving in a disorderly way. The accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. ONE MAN SENT TO GAOL. AUCKLAND, February 12. “If you had set out to do yourselves a bad turn you could not have been more successful,” said the magistrate (Mr W. H. Woodward) to-day when sentencing those arrested for participating in Tuesday’s unemployed clash with the police. “ Such a demonstration loses you public sympathy, and you 'can’t afford that.” The magistrate said he would make allowances for the present trouble and the excitement of the moment, and the fact that the majority of the accused were usually respectable citizens. He did not think they would repeat the offence. He stated that those who had thrown bricks might even have committed murder. Henry Powell, aged 21, a fireman, for obstructing the police, was sentenced to one month in gaol; three others were fined £5; one £7 10s; and another was bound over. ' . Other charges are being heard.