RIOTS IN MELBOURNE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17189, 5 November 1923, Page 11

RIOTS IN MELBOURNE.

RESULT OF POLICE STRIKE. CITY SHOPS LOOTED. By Telegraph—Preo* Association—Copyright Australian and I*l.Z. Cable Association. MELBOURNE, November A. Unparalleled scenes, resulting from the police, strike, were witnessed in Bourke and Swanston Streets, loyalist police being savagely attacked by crowds who smashed shops windows and looted premises. ! A small party of bluejackets made an unsuccessful effort to protect tho shops, but tho sailors were so severely handled that all of them were injured. A tram was pushed from the rails and the passengers were thrown out and trampled ou. A fir© brigade then dashed through the crowd and scattered it. but this measure was only temporarily effective. Tho rioting continued. Trams were, compelled to stop. Many plate glass windows wore smashed. A man was pushed through a window and had his throat terribly gashed. Fifty-seven casualties were treated in the hospital a s the result of the rioting. At one stage- of the disorder a co>T>oral of tho citizen forces appeared, carrying a rifle. He was greeted with yells of rage, knocked down and the rifle taken from him. One hundred special constables wereenrolled at the Town Hall, and, with the. aid of police who had remained loyal, the rowdy element was routed. When it was reported to the na\'al authorities that some sailors had been injured a patrol was despatched from the destroyers. It rushed to tho scene in taxi cabs and rescued the Thousands of pounds worth of goods was looted from the shops, the thieves carrying the proceeds of the robberies openly through the streets. < Rioting continued till after nine o’clock, the crowd getting more and more out of hand. Finally the police and specials fired a- vollev in the air, and, after repeated charges with batons, drove the croYvd before them. As the night wore on the rioting became more and more unrestrained, and the looting increased, jewellers’ shops being the first to suffer. Cabinet asked the managements of various entertainments to call for returned soldiers to stop the looting. This was done, and tho men responded freely. Later the disorder became more pronounced, mobs unrestrainedly looting and damaging property. They rushed tho theatres and the terrified audiences listened quakingly to the sounds of revolver shots and the breaking of glass. So far one death lias been reported, a man being found in a dying condition in the street. Later in the evening tho crowd attacked gangs of hooligans parading up and down Collins Street with booty on their shoulders, which they commenced to auction in the street, buyers being freely forthcoming. At a. lato hour the police had the position well in hand, the various gangs dispersing, although not without serious fighting. The Police Association carried a resolution urging the police to return to duty immediately in the public interests. and to submit their grievances to arbitration. During the height of the rioting sixty-two people were treated in hospital in an hour. No estimate of the damage is possible. though it must amount to many thousands. In one shop alone £3OOO worth of jewellery was lost. THREE DEATHS REPORTED. “MELBOURNE November 4. Rioting continues and the crowd is thoroughly out of hand. The loyal police art powerless and the militia has been called out. During the week-end there were three deaths due to violence. A young man. unidentified, was found in a park with his head battered. Two men were attempting to enter a wine cafe in the city when an altercation occurred with the proprietor. Two shots were fired. One of the intruders fell dead an C [ the other tvas wounded. The proprietor surrendered to the police but no charge has been laid against him.