A BAD RECORD.

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3181, 24 May 1932, Page 4

A BAD RECORD.

SINCE the New Year there have been in New Zealand six serious riots, seven baton charges by police, seven strikes,i seven outbreaks of disorder, more than 250 arrests, about 300 casualty cases, and more than 500 shop windows smashed. This, briefly, constitutes one of the most disorderly periods in the Dominion's history, and a glance at the record of happenings during the past few months, will disclose the disturbing increase in outbreaks that has taken place in recent months. This long train of events has been accomplished, naturally, by unprecedented police activity and the swearing-in and utilisation of a huge army of special constables. The bad record of lawlessness'does not warrant the slightest panic, but does demand the immediate attention of the public and the facing of the plain fact 'that it has a duty to do this I winter. In his comments on the re'cent Wellington the Prime Minister, Hon. G. W- Forbes, said he was afraid that the continuance of sympathetic feelings towards the unemployed was not going to be encouraged by riotous actions and vandalism on the part of a comparatively small section of the community. All this' is perfectly true, and this fact

alone should act as a spur to the generosity and charity of the public towards those in need. Lawless outbreaks may be distinct from unemployed demonstrations, but are, nevertheless, an unfortunate by-product of them. The only certain way to end such outbreaks is to remove the causes of any feelings of despair or victimisation the unemployed may have. This the Unemployment Board, with its limited resources, cannot do; it is the duty of the public alone. The call for aid this winter will be as pressing as any ever made in wartime. The nature of the response will prove whether the New Zealander's love of country is just an empty myth or is something that lives. If an effort worthy of the cause is made, we shall see no more lawlessness.