POLICE USE REVOLVERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 261, 3 November 1928, Page 9

POLICE USE REVOLVERS

PITCHED BATTLE AT PORT MELBOURNE (By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian Press Assn.) Received November 2, 10 p.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 2. A pitched battle between Unionist fctevedores and the police at Port Melbourne to-day culminated in three unionists being shot. They were: Allan Whittaker, who is hi a serious condition with a bullet in the right of <he jaw; James Williams, with a builet in the right arm; and George Gray, who has a bullet m the left shoulder. Two policemen, Holton and Caldwell, were injured with stones, and scores of unionists received minor injuries from batons. Several were thrown into the sea, but were cither rescued or paddled to safety. About 1000 unionists gathered round the gates of Prince’s Pier in the morning and demanded admission. When this was refused, they stormed the gates, armed with sticks and stones, and overwhelmed the police, whose batons were ineffective. Consequently the police were compelled to shoot. The battle raged for half an hour before the infuriated mob was dispersed. All work was at a standstill and Prince’s Pier was isolated, big overseas vessels, including the Chitral, being idle. A hundred extra police were brought from the country to Melbourne to maintain order. At one stage an aeroplane swooped down on the rioters, while the battle was in progress. The men feared it would fire a machine gun, and scattered and ducked heads, but nothing of the kind happened. A similar scene occurred yesterday, when the cruiser Brisbane fired a gun. which, however, was only being tc~ted. Shots were fired at a tug taking aboard volunteers at Port Melbourne in the afternoon. Stones were also thrown and one volunteer was injured. An attempt was also made to raid the steamer Port Adelaide but the chief officer drew a revolver and repulsed the attackers. Representatives of the Unionists and stevedores interviewed the Premier, Mr Hogan, and asked him to restrain the police from using firearms, otherwise they would hav. to resort to firearms themselves. Mr Hogan gave them to understand that the police were bound to preserve law and order. He promised to call Cabinet together and discuss developments.