FASCIST VIOLENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20329, 12 June 1934, Page 7

FASCIST VIOLENCE.

Will Not Be Tolerated in England.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT,

British Official Wireless.

(Received June 12, 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY. June 11

In the House of Commons, in ' a statement, on the recent disorders at a Fascist meeting at Olympia last week, the Home Secretary, Sir John Gilmour. said that the country as a whole would agree that disorder on the scale recently witnessed could not be tolerated, and if it continued it might be necessary to arm the executive authorities with further power for the purpose of preserving public order. Sir John Gilmour said that he was not concerned with the apportioning of the blame between the Fascists and Communists, but it was the function of the Government to prererve law and order, and it would be failing in its duty if it allowed any faction to disturb the public peace. They certainly were not prepared to allow the maintenance of order and the maintenance of free institutions to be usurped by any private and irresponsible body, no matter what might be its avowed aim or object. The above statement was made in reply to a number of questions addressed to the Minister. He stated that, arising out of the disturbances in connection with the meeting, twentythree arrests had been made and ten persons had been treated in neighbouring hospitals for injuries received within the building. He explained that except on request, o runles sthere was good reason to believe that a breach of the peace was being committed, it was no part of the police duties to enter premises where public meetings were being held. On the present occasion the police were informed that their assistance within the building was not required. Allegations had been made by responsible eye-witnesses that assaults were committed by Fascist stewards on people interrupting, but as the law did not allow undue violence to be used, and as the question as to whether unnecessary force was used might come before the Court, it would not be proper for him to make any comment on these allegations. He ought, however, to point out that hitherto advice as regards police action had been based on the assumption that the stewards would act without undue violence and avoid illegal acts. If this assumption were found to be un. warranted as regards meetings promoted by any particular "organisation the whole policy of police action inside such meetings would have to be revised.