MARCHING IN RAIN

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 5

MARCHING IN RAIN

Sydney Police Cheered by Thousands. DEMONSTRATION OF POWER. (Special to the “Star.”) SYDNEY, May 13. Thousands of spectators cheered 1500 members of the police force as they swung smartly down Macquarie Street, Sydney, in their march through the city. In other streets additional thousands watched the unusual parade. Instead of the police erecting barriers and controlling the crowds for processions, for one day they became the point of attraction, and the barriers were put up for them. All streets of the line of march were densely packed with crowds whose admiration was unstinted for the smart'appearance of the police. In the Domain crowds watched the assembly until the rain came. Lined up in platoons beneath the trees, column after column stretched down the avenue in orderly formation. Then came the rain, but they stood their ground without flinching. The rain became heavier, and the order was given to run for shelter. It was not sufficient, however, to deter them from duty. When the “ fallin ” was sounded they faced the rain again, defied it, got wet, but still they stood—and then the rain gave up. With the troopers at their head the force swung briskly out into Macquarie Street, their band setting the pace to stirring music. Then the crowd came in. Cheers broke louder than the music, and when the head of the column passed the saluting base at Mitchell Library the demonstration was amazing, even to the police. The State Governor, Sir Philip Game, took the salute, standing on the lawn near the footpath. With him was Commissioner Childs, and close to the stand-ard-bearers were the Premier, Mr Lang, and the Metropolitan Superintendent, Mr Mac Kay. Close to the saluting base were the Chief Secretary, Mr Gosling, Mr Laidlaw, C.S.M., and Mr J. Mitchell, former. Police Commissioner