SENSATIONAL ARREST IN LONDON.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 600, 2 November 1932, Page 1

SENSATIONAL ARREST IN LONDON.

Leader of Hunger-marchers Faces Serious Charge. DETECTIVES RAID HEADQUARTERS. (United Press Association.—By JJlectric Telegraph.—Copyright.* (Received November 2. 11.30 am.) T,,_— LONDON, November 1. ENT\ DETECTIV ES raided the headquarters of the hunger-marchers and examined documents there. They then arrested the leader, a man named.Hannington, on charges arising out of Sunday night’s demonstration. He intended leading the marchers on Westminster to-night. Hannington appeared at the How Street Court to-day, where he was charged with attempting to cause disaffection among the police The prosecution alleged that Hannington described the special constables as “ black-legs ” who were readv to take the policemen’s jobs. He referred to the cuts in pav of the sailors, soldiers and police, and urged all workers, in or out of uniform, to stand together. Accused was remanded. Hail was refused.

The recent disturbances in London are alleged to have been fomented by trouble-makers, acting on instructions from Moscow, and evidence of the deliberate nature of the riots was found by the police who, after the first serious disturbance, discovered two lorries in the procession in which were hidden large numbers of nail-studded staves and other weapons. A message from London to the Melbourne “ Herald ” on October 24 said: The London County Hall resembled a great police barracks to-day, says the “ Daily Mail,” when a deputation of seven unemployed men and three women voiced the grievances of the workless over the means test which the authorities have put into force before granting unemployed relief. A thousand policemen formed a cordon round the hall and mounted police guarded the fore court and barred the entrance. Flying Squad vans were posted nearby. There was no sign of a disturbance, and the vast police force had little to do except to keep the roads clear. '

The deputation asked that the unemployment allowance should be £1 a week for adults, 10s for a wife and 5s for each child, in addition to a pint of milk daily.

Where needed, the unemployed should be furnished with boots and one cwt. of coal a week during the winter. Fred Copeman, leader of the Norwich contingent of hunger-marchers, said: “Of course, we are going to foment unrest. That is the object of the march. We are determined that the moneyed classes must keep us.” Oxford undergraduates have chartered motor coaches to assist the marchers.

The Rev M. Sargent says that scores of the men are unable to walk because their footwear is 400 worn. Many of the men are of the unemployable type. During the discussion in the House of Commons on the Ottawa Agreement,

a man in the Public Gallery shouted: “Abolish the means test. In the name of the millions of unemployed I demand that the workers be received.” Attendants rushed to the man who, while being removed, shouted: “ Release Hannington.” The scene lasted only a minute. General Stoppage of Mill* Expected. British Official Wireless. t RUGBY, October 31. The Operative Spinners Amalgamation refused by 84 votes to 38 to endorse the wages settlement reached one week ago by its executive, after negotiations with the employers which lastted eighty-seven hours. The Amalgamation decided that members should strike this morning at all mills where the wage reductions of 7.67 per cent, which was agreed to in the settlement] was put into effect. There is in consequence the prospect of a general stoppage of the spinning pulls of Lancashire as from to-day. COMPLETE HOLD-UP. LONDON, November 1. Apart from a few mills where employers are continuing the old w'ages, the stoppage in the Lanpashire spinning industry is virtually complete. The Ministry of Labour’s conciliation officer, Mr F. W. Leggett, hurried to Manchester, but he is powerless until the Spinning Operatives Amalgamation has balloted whether to continue or cease the strike. The result will be known in the week-end. Failing an early settlement a further 200.000 operatives will be idle owing to the enforced stoppage in the weaving section.