RIOT AT KALGOORLIE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1919, Page 12

RIOT AT KALGOORLIE.

UNPOPULAR ITALIANS RETURNED SOLDIERS' HAT. Sydney, Aug. 21. There were grave fears that racial riots of a series kind would follow the affray in Kalgoorlie on August 12, when a returned soldier was fatally stabbed by an Italian, and the returned soldiers' organisation issued a warning that all Italians should leave the place with no loss of time. The soldiera' notice expired on Saturday, but by then matters had quietened down considerably. There wan a great exodus of Italians from the goldflelds, however. There are perhaps 20,000 people in and around Kalgoorlie, and about 1000 of them are" Italian laborers. They do the very heavy work about the mines, but a large proportion of them are "out on the wood lineß." These goldflelds depend for fuel mainly on woods which have to be brought long distances, and considerable numbers of men are employed in the laborious work of woodcutting and transportation. There was a strike on the wood lines the other day, and the Italians went crowding into the town. Kalgoorlie has its Italian quarter, and the Italians keep aggressively to their own language, institutions, and customs. They have their own wine saloons, and it is said that Australian women have heen enticed into their undesirable establishments. Now /and again, when they are festive, they march out into the streets, jostling passers-by and noisily singing their patriotic songs. Anything but a friendly feeling has grown up between the Italians and the British. There is a great preponderance of men on these goldflelds—a condition which <?eems always to lead to outbreaks of lawlessness. There have been many crimes of violence, and no less than three men are at present in gaol in Kalgoorlie awaiting trial on murder charges. - Although it was a returned soldier that was stabbed, the riot which followed was not the work of returned men, but of a most undesirable element of hooligans and looters. This mob attacked the premises of many quite inoffensive Italians, simply in order that they might rob them, while the real culprits, single and irresponsible Italian laborers, were not hurt. That was why the soldiers' fiat went forth: "The unmarried Italians must get out." The soldiers declared that there would be no further disorder, but their grimness and determination had an effect. The exodus on the following Friday and Saturday was so great that a special train was required. Most of the single Italians have gone out to the wood lines, where work has recommenced. Others have headed for Perth and Fremantle. It is not desired to deport them, but only to scatter them. Europeans are not unwelcome in Australia, but trouble will always follow when they herd together in exclusive communities.