QUEEN STREET WRECKAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1932, Page 7

QUEEN STREET WRECKAGE

WHAT DAYLIGHT DISCLOSED RIOTERS NOT SEEKING FOOD looting of valuables SCENE DISMAYS PUBLIC By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, April 15. Aucklanders on coming to Queen Street this morning beheld a scene unparalleled in the history of the city. Thousands of people comfortable in their homes last night knew nothing of the riot in Queen Street, and on hearing or reading of it this morning were simply staggered. , There had been rumours of “trouble,” but nothing definite, and when a big unemployed procession on Wednesday proved orderly and almost entirely good-humoured the ordinary citizen probably felt satisfied that if anything untoward occurred it would not be serious and would be easily controlled. This morning they hs,ve the evidence of their eyes that the criminal and larrikin'elements of the population held sway in Queen Street last night. In Queen Street alone 210 broken shop windows were counted, and those in side streets probably bring the total to 250. At the time of writing there is no possibility of assessing the value of looted property. Some shopkeepers never heard till too late of what was happening to their premises, and it is likely to take most of them many hours to ascertain what they lost. The evidence of the looted shops stems to show clearly that this was no food riot. As far as was noticed not a provision shop was looted. The looters instead rifled jewellers, tobacconists, clothiers and confectioners. Many other shops had windows broken, but little was stolen, though this in some eases was due to the hole in the glass not being big enough. POLICE INADEQUATE. Another thing certain is that the police forces were woefully inadequate to deal with such a situation. While nearly all available police were struggling to control the mass of unemployed outside the Town Hall the criminals and larrikins on the fringe broke away and swept down Queen Street, and there was nothing to stop them. Many of the larrikins were youths and girls. The degree to which the riot was premeditated is uncertain. Many rioters carried stones which they obtained close to the Town Hall. Others were seen kicking in windows. This morning extensive preparations were launched to ensure that any further rioting would be instantly controlled.

Queen Street was thronged all the morning with citizens who wandered up, and down crunching broken glass underfoot. Their expression was one of incredulity and dismay. Over 200 people . were injured last night, of whom eight are in hospital. These had all regained consciousness, lu addition to the six already telegraphed, Walter Jones, aged 44, is suffering from concussion (not serious), Hugh Roberts, aged 40, head injuries (not serious), and three constables, O’Donnell, Yoeward and Blucher, were injured. For three hours there was a stream of people in the main lobby of the Auckland- hospital, and about 50 injured were treated.

In the city St. John Ambulance men dressed the wounds of 150 people in wonderfully quick time. There were also two casualty stations at the Town Hall, and ambulance men went down Queen Street and dressed minor injuries by the light of street lamps. One clothier estimated his loss at £lOOO, including overcoats worth £3OO. He says that if friends had not rallied to help him the looters would have cleaned out the shop. The manager of the tramways said to-day that the unemployed last night deliberately held up the trams in Queen Street for three hours. They would not budge from the ’tram tracks. ’ Naval units will provide patrols to assist the police. The Royal Naval Reserve will be on duty throughout the evening. A squadron of mounted special police has arrived from the country, and will remain encamped in the city till the trouble definitely subsides. They will be on duty day and night. All the voluntary forces will be directed by the police superintendent. Full support has been promised by the Government for jtny emergency measures that may bo decided on. The Mayor asks all not on special duty to‘ go home to-night, leaving the streets clear of all except those who are looking for trouble.

THOUSAND SPECIAL POLICE

NO LIMIT TO APPLICATIONS.

ALL SORTS OF MEN OFFERING.

Auckland, Last Night.

Over 1000 special constables were enrolled. by the police in the city to-day as a saieguard against further disturbances. Mr. S. Till, Superintendent of Police, has direct charge of all- operations, and he has under his control the military, naval and air force units, • a largely augmented police force and a special force. The detective office was transformed into a recruiting depot, when six detectives were kept busy at typewriters taking details of those offering for special duty. Before eight o’clock men were waiting at the office for enrolment, and there was a continual stream of applicants until well after midday. Later in the afternoon, when the 1000 mark had been passed it was necessary to close down on the applications in order that the special force should not be too unweildy. All sorts and conditions of men offered their- services, but the maiority were young fellows of the average city type.

NEWS DISPLAYED IN BRITAIN

SHOCK TO BRITISH PUBLIC.

DID NOT EXPECT TROUBLE.

By Telecraph—Press Assfi.—Copyright.

Rec. 10.30 p.m. London, April 15. The news of the Auckland rioting was displayed in big headlines in each of the morning newspapers. It came as a great surprise and even a shock to the British public, who_ were unprepared by earlier cables and did not suspect tho imminence of trouble.

A Sydney cable says the Auckland disorders were featured in the New South Wales newspapers and were also freely discussed at Melbourne.