RIOTOUS SCENES

Southland Times, Issue 21850, 29 October 1932, Page 5

RIOTOUS SCENES

HUNGER MARCH CLASH WITH POLICE MANY ARRESTS MADE SHOP WINDOWS BROKEN (United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright.) London, October 27. Though 20,000 within Hyde Park gave little trouble, riotous scenes marked the conflict between the police and thousands of sympathizers with the hunger-marchers around the Marble Arch. Before the mass meeting began an arrest outside the park incited thousands to surge forward snarling and hooting as the van removed the prisoner. . Twelve mounted police charges with staves took place, while 20 chased the demonstrators up the by-streets. Several were arrested. A drapery shop’s windows were smashed, but the shuttering prevented looting. Other disturbances were quelled, but as home-going vehicles swelled the traffic the roadways became chaotic. The police cleared a passage and made further arrests, while a crowd threw mud at the stationary police cars. Mounted police dispersed a thousand men threatening the special constables, whom the crowd resented as blacklegs. Fugitives rifled a coke car and smashed the windows. Other demonstrators boarded lorries and snatched mops and pipes with which they were laden and menaced the mounted police. Some waving red flags shouted, “To Hell with the National Government.” The police galloped up and down Rotten Row quelling disturbances. Further arrests were effected before the processions broke up. Eight civilians and four police were sent to hospital. Ten thousand unemployed demonstrated against the Means Test at Glasgow, but the police prevented trouble as with similar displays at Birmingham and Manchester.

TRAFFIC DISORGANIZED UGLY EPISODES. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 27. About 15,000 unemployed, including the hunger-marchers, gathered at Hyde Park causing a disorganization of traffic in West End streets for several hours. The meetings concentrated on six platforms, widely separated. Saklatvala and Tom Mann were among the speakers. The most serious trouble occurred at Marble Arch, where were stationed parties of special constables. The marchers became angry at their presence and began a threatening rush towards the specials. There were a number of ugly episodes resulting in 23 being injured in clashes between the police and unemployed, including a policeman who was seriously injured by a bar of iron. In other cases the rioters broke the windows of Oxford street shops, using building bricks and lumps from an overturned coal cart. Apart from a few broken heads, the worst result was frightened women shoppers who unexpectedly found themselves involved in the riot in which the mounted police cleared the streets by walking their horses on the pavements. A number of innocent people were knocked down, necessitating their attention by ambulances. Inside the park further trouble developed at Rotten Row, where a party of angry Communists seized handfuls of mud and gravel and flung it at the mounted police. The latter drew their batons and dispersed them. By 5.15 all the columns of hunger strikers left the park and marched to the suburbs where they were billeted in the houses of sympathizers, many obviously suffering extreme fatigue. The leaders tried to cheer them by singing songs.

RAIN ENDS DISORDERS PETITION TO THE HOUSE. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 27. Forty were treated at hospitals in connection with the Hyde Park rioting. Twelve arrests were made. A heavy downpour of rain in the evening ended attempts by Communists at disorders, damping the ardour of even the most pugnacious. Parliament House is strongly guarded. Mr J. McGovern is presenting a petition to the House of Commons in which the hunger marchers ask for access to the bar of the House on November 1 to plead the cause of 3,000,000 unemployed. Mr McGovern will then submit a motion that the House agree to hear the marchers. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT REPRESENTATIONS TO BE HEARD. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, October 27. In the House of Commons the Hon. George Lansbury asked that time might be saved on the remaining stage of the Ottawa Agreements Bill so that unemployment might be discussed, and the Prime Minister undertook that if possible this should be done. Other Labour members requested leave to move an adjournment of the House to discuss this subject in view of the arrival of the unemployed demonstrators in London. Mr Speaker said he was unable to accept the motion as the Government had promised to bring in a Bill dealing with the Means Test which dealt with the unemployment problem. He advised members that the correct course was the presentation of a petition to the House of Commons asking permission for the deputation of unemployed marchers to appear at the Bar of the House to present their case. This advice is being followed and the petition will be presented early next week. RIOTS NOT SERIOUS. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. (Rec. 10.45 p.m.) London, October 28. The newspapers generally correctly stress that the significance of the disorder and hooliganism at Hyde Park and its neighbourhood is likely to be exaggerated abroad. Actually they were not serious. The Times says the publicity value of the rioting is thoroughly understood by the organizers of these senseless demonstrations under the name of “Hunger Marcher" which implies a state of starvation. No one in England would be allowed to perish by hunger. The Morning Post says the conduct of genuine unemployed, both on the march and demonstration, gave little cause for complaint, though a hammer and sickle on the banners suggest power behind the well organized display. These hapless unemployed were set in motion by a hand skilful in making trouble. The Daily Telegraprosays that neither this, nor any other demonstration, will affect the truth that provision for the unemployed in this country is far more generous than in any other.