TYPICALLY BRITISH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18332, 26 February 1934, Page 8

TYPICALLY BRITISH

HYDE PARK PARADE ABSENCE OF DISORDER AN EXAMPLE TO FRANCE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received February 26, 2 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 25. The general impression left by the Hyde Park demonstration of hunger marchers, delegates to the Congress of Action, and sympathisers, was a truly British display of protest, restrained by self-discipline. ’Phe participants were good tempered and never obstrnsive. The police control, fogs in the suburbs, and a continuous drizzle in the West End damped the preliminary enthusiasm, but the completeness of the organisation for handling joth moving and stationary crowds appealed to French journalistic eye-wit-nesses, who compared this foresight with tho lack of foresight preceding the Paris riots. Scotland Yard, to which every metropolitan division reported, was a real nerve-centre controlling 15,000 constables and 5030 special police throughout London. Of these, 4000 foot police, in gleaming wet capes, and 200 overcoated mounted men maintained order in Hyde Park among a crowd numbering between 15,000 and 20,000. _ The day began with the resumption of the Congress of Action, Air. J. McGovern, AI.P., securing the adoption of a resolution demanding the removal of the Labor Party’s ban on the congress and march. The audience frantically cheered Alt’. Harry Pollitt and Air. 'Join Ahum, who were bailed out. The congress adopted a mass action programme, and appointed a deputation, including Mr. J. Maxton, Miss Ellen Wilkinson, and Messrs. Campbell and Stephen to present it to the House of Commons on Tuesday, refusing to .receive Mr. MacDonald’s letter declining to hear a deputation. The chairman having appealed to the delegates to keep their heads, 1700 members of the congress departed for Hyde Park, escorted by the imperturbable, police, who impartially distributed their services to other contingents. The only incident cu route was the arrest of two marchers at Camden Town for obstruction, after which, dogged yet pitiful, their companions marched on. Two police ollicers on top of Alarble Arch directed the influx to tho park, others occupying a control tower inside the park, assisted by motor-cycle dispatch riders. A telephone installation connected with all outposts. Squads of police unobtrusively occupied adjacent thoroughfares. Three huge marquees, equipped with Held kitchens, supplied the requirements of the ambulance corps and police. The size of the crowd fell short of expectations, many being the usual loungers who listen to Sunday orators. Free movement was possible everywhere. Sightseers included the usual number of fashionably dressed women. Tho attendance was only one-third that of the demonstration of October, 1932. The. only police casualty was an inspector, who was bitten on the hand by a squad luader, who was arrested.