MELBOURNE RIOTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17189, 5 November 1923, Page 8

MELBOURNE RIOTS.

+ WHOLESALE LOOTING OF SHOPS IN CENTRAL AREA. MANY KILLED AND HUNDREDS WOUNDED. By Teie^ r^ph- —Press Assn.—Copyright.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received November 5, 11.50 a.m.) MELBOURNE. November 5. The damage caused by smashing- and looting during the riots is estimated at JC1.000.000. No authentic figures are available regarding the number of injured, but considerably over one hundred were treated in the Melbourne Hospital. Several deaths are reported. Between thirty and forty men have been arrested. Practically every window in the block bounded by Little Collins, Swanston. Bourke, and Elizabeth Streets was broken and the contents looted. At the request of the authorities, the picture show proprietors issued invitations on the film to returned soldiers to help to restore order. On Saturdaj ngiht, over five hundred were enrolled as special constables, and were equipped with batons. At one stage of the looting, a man pushed in front of the looters and shouted: “Think what you are doing, boys.” He was smashed on the head from behind with a bottle and kicked insensible. The mobs roared with delight as the lawless element drove the passengers from a tram in Johnston Street and lifted it from the rails. Owing to the undercarriage proving too heavy, they were unable to turn it completely over, so the mob restored it to the rails and drove the car backwards and forwards in a frenzy. All tram and train traffic ceased at 7 o'clock last evening, and has been ordered to cease at the same hour to-night. It is not unlikely that Cup Day will be postponed in order is not restored in the interim. A Cabinet meeting, at which Sir John Monash was present, decided to urge citizens who w T ere not enrolled as special constables to keep out of the city as a matter of duty, for the crowds provided cover for the looters and rioters. Men of military age and fitness are urged to join up and assist in the preservation of peace. The Government is making adcq .ate arrangements for feeding and accommodating them. The Hon. G. F. Pearce (Minister for Home Affairs) sy “ i ccd that the State Government has intimated that it was eie iu cope with the lawlessness in the Commonwealth and, t ore, he had taken steps to afford protection by guards from the Army, Naval and Air Forces. Mr Lawson (the Premier) late last night stated that the Government, after mature consideration, concluded that it was impossible in the interests of public welfare in any circumstances to reinstate any of the strikers. These men had been false to their oaths, had violated their trust, and had deserted their posts, thus handing the city over to the lawless elements of the community. It was inconceivable that such men should be taken back into a service which demanded so much honour, good faith, and reliability from the personnel. It is rumoured that the warders at Pentridge Gaol are restless and threaten also to join the strikers unless this movement is checked. It is feared, that all the hardened criminals in gaol will be let loose on the community to accentuate the looting and rioting. A rough estimate of ihe damage which was made last night, shows a total ot seventy-eight shops looted, men’s clothing stores in particular being singled out by the raiders. Twenty-one of these were stripped of their contents. Next came the jewellers, fifteen of which were ransacked. Altogether, thirty shops were attacked in Bourke Street, fourteen in Elizabeth Street, twelve in Swanston Street, eleven in Little Collins Street, and five in Collins Street. There were isolated cases in other city streets as well as the suburbs. Stocks of great value were pillaged wholesale. It is estimated that it will cost £IO.OOO to replace the plate glass windows alone. Mr Tom Walsh, president of the Seamen’s Union, addressing a meeting of the striking police on Saturday, urged them to meet force with force. He declared that the world was governed by force, and if they carried on with the same solidarity as they were doing, they would show the Premier he would tail. The Government was merely the spokesman of the Capitalist class. The meeting decided to ask for the co-operation of the irades Hall Dispute Committee. - , ! h^^ ut l horities the position fairly well in hand last “Sf- lhe loyal police, specials, and detachments of former Light Horsemen w ho responded to the appeal for assistance, kept the crowds moving. One daring attempt to renew the disorders was made near the Eastern Market, where the police attacked about one hundred men who w ere engaged in pillaging a tailor’s shop, the rioters retreated, submitting the police to such a hail of missiles that eventually several shots were fired. Thereupon the crowd broke, and the police completed the rout with a baton charge. Several thousand specials have been enrolled, a larsre nercentage being returned soldiers. B ler