ANTI-EVICTIONISTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 144, 20 June 1931, Page 9

ANTI-EVICTIONISTS

FIGHT WIIH THE POLICE SYDNEY SUBURBAN BATTLE REVOLVERS USED THIS TIME [F, Telegraph—Press Aaaociation—Copyright! Received Juno 19, 9.30 p.m. SYDNEY, June 19. Another sensational elash between anti-cvietionists and tho police, took place at noon at Newtown suburb. The police on this occasion, made greater use of revolvers and fired 15 shots before raiding a semi-detached two-storied house. Fourteen anti-evictionists and eight police were injured and a spectator, a man about 40 years of age, dropped dead with excitement while watch ing tho battle. • Leading Communists were again associated with the affair. Many of their members addressed tho crowd prior to tho police raid and urged workers to fall in behind them : nd fight the police, who regarded tho challenge as an open deflnanco of the law.

With surprising suddenness the police arrived in a motor-bus. Their arrival was heralded by shout” and volleys of stones. The men on the upstairs balcony maintained a fusilade, whereupon tho inspector of police commanded his men to draw revolvers and fire. Immediately there was a succession of shouts and the balcony defenders dis appeared inside. Tho police battered down the doors and wore met bv a shower of stones and half-bricks. The wonder is that they escaped with their lives.

Tho battle inside raged for 20 min ntes everything breakable being reduced to ruins. Huge stones came hurtlin-r downstair and missed poliecmeo l v inches. A. thin cordon of police kept order outside tho house, hut these police were constantly ducking to avoid living stones from onlookers. The hooting was never allowed to subside. Tim pohce_ eventually emerged with'a number of bedraggled and blood-stained defenders handcuffed together, who wore marched to a waiting police waggon They received medical treatment at the charged PUal bef ° rC bC ‘ nff lockod U P and

The .injured police were treated at tho police hospital. A later message states that the pe >ee ">ust have dealt more severely with the Newtown anti-evictionists today, as four are suffering from eoncussion and extensive cuts, probably caused by batons, but the police shots were n Ore t 0 fr 'B hton than to injure The bullets shattered the woodwork of the balcony, and one man was shot in the arm. Eighteen arrests were made Iho police wounds were mostly superficial. One has a fractured hand. Mr Lamaro, Attorney-General, has announced that the Government is introducing legislation to protect tennants against eviction in certain instances, which it is hoped will minimise the eviction disturbances.