RIOTERS IMPRISONED

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 7

RIOTERS IMPRISONED

THE MAXIMUM TOO LITTLE

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE

DISREGARD OF WARNING

ONE CHARGE OF INCITING

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, April 16.

Fifty-eight shop windows smashed in Karangahape Road or the vicinity represented the mob’s achievement last night. Over 20 arrests were made, and the men appeared in the Police Court this morning. The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, remarked that the section of the Act under which most of the offenders were charged should be amended in such times. The maximum sentence of three months’ imprisonment was too little. He added that yesterday he had treated offenders leniently, but the public, after reading the Mayor’s appeal to them not to stay unnecessarily in the streets, had disregarded it. Now offenders would know what was coming to them. Several of those charged to-day received the maximum term of three months. In addition to the rioters, John Sharpe, aged 36, and Frank Edwin Lark, described as prominent leaders of the unemployed, charged with inciting to lawlessnes, were remanded on bail of £5OO.

LEGISLATION CONSIDERED.

ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Wellington, April 16.

Mr. Forbes stated to-day that the Government was considering special legislation to deal with the position that had arisen in New Zealand as the result of the riots. It was not anticipated that there would be further trouble during the week-end.

In the meantime Labour meetings which had been arranged were not being cancelled by the Government, which was leaving the matter to the discretion of local bodies. The police force had been strengthened to deal with the situation. If any offences arose as the result of the efforts to maintain law and order by those responsible, they would have to be condoned by the Government. Mr. D. G. Sullivan, Labour Mayor of Christchurch, had assured him that all necessary steps had been taken, to maintain law and order in that city. Mr. Sullivan had assured him that the possibility of an outbreak during the week-end was remote. WELLINGTON MEETING QUIET. SPECIAL POLICE VOLUNTEERS 'l . . . Wellington, Last Night. About 300 persons attended at the Basin Reserve this afternoon in response to an announcement : by the unemployed workers’ movement that a mass meeting would be held. Speeches criticising the Government’s policy were delivered by several of the movement’s leaders and the crowd then dispersed quietly. A large number of citizens are offering their services as special constables, and arrangements are being made for the enrolment of as many as the authorities may deem advisable.

MASTERTON DEMONSTRATION.

“CHANGE POLICY OR RESIGN.”-

Masterton, Last Night.

At a Labour Party demonstration at Masterton this afternoon a resolution was passed condemning the Government’s policy .and calling upon it either to amend its policy or resign. The speakers were Messrs. W. E. Barnard and J. O’Brien, M’s.P., who referring to the Auckland disturbances, deplored the rioting but said the Government could not escape responsibility. The meeting was orderly throughout. There was an attendance of about 500.

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT.

RESOLUTION PASSED AT NAPIER.

Napier, Last Night.

Over 1000 people listened to addresses by Mr. J. McCombs and Mr. W. Nash, Labour members of Parliament, on McLean Park this afternoon. The speakers criticised generally the Government’s policy and administration. A lengthy motion was carried condemning the Government’s policy. The same members addressed a gathering in Hastings to-night.

EX-SOLDIERS’ DISAPPROVAL.

PROTEST AT THE DISORDERS.

Timaru, Last Night.

A largely attended meeting, of the South Canterbury Returned Soldiers’ Association last night carried unanimously the following motion: “That unemployed members of the association disapprove of :.ny form of demonstration which is liable to lead to disorder and resolve to take no part in any such demonstration.”

BRITISH OPINION OF RIOTS. “CRAZY POST-WAR ECONOMICS.” By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, April 15. The Manchester Guardian, in an editorial, says that the New Zealand riots are disturbing. “They remind us that the poverty and hardship brought about by the conditions of the economic crisis must unquestionably be serious to lead to such a display of violence in a country no less law-abiding than ours. The Government has heroically tried to balance the Budget, but cannot by itself alter the world depression. New Zealand, like every other country, is suffering from Europe’s crazy poet-war economics.”