HUNTLY RAID

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 8

HUNTLY RAID

EIGHT MEN CHARGED NONE NEW ZEALANDERS. REMANDED FOB A WEEK. 1 Per Press Association.) HAMILTON, May 20. The preliminary sequel to yesterday’s disturbance at Huntly, when the premises of the Farmers’ Trading Co. were entered and groceries forcibly removed by a number of relief workers, was staged at the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court, this morning, when eight of the men alleged to have participated in the looting appeared before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M. Four were charged with theft of groceries valued at £io and with inciting and encouraging lawlessness. They were: David Fuller (Australia), aged 32; Raymond Richards (England), aged 32; Albert Allen (England), aged 32; Joseph Bincham (England), aged 50. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £lOO each.

The following were charged with theft of groceries valued at £10: Horatio Swindells (England), aged 47; Francis George Stevens (England), aged 44; Janies Moyes (Scotland), aged 50; Thomas Morgan (England) aged 44. Similar bail was allowed on the application of the police. All of the accused were . remanded to appear at Huntly on. Friday. Further details to hand concerning the looting, state that coming from a meeting at the Lyceum Theatre, the crowd entered the Farmers’ Trading Company’s store in a body. The manager, who was having his lunch at the rear of tho premises, heard the crowd stamp into the shop, and camo out and faced the leaders.

“What is the idea?” he asked, when he saw both counters lined with men and women forty deep. When told that they wanted the hospital board charged with £5O worth of goods, ho said: “You know very well I have no authority to do that.’ The leaders replied: “If you refuse to give us credit we will take what we want.” Suggestion Turned Down Mr. Northmore said: “I will tell you what I will do. I’m prepared to sec all tho shopkeepers in town and find out what we can do to help you.” One man said: “That is a good idea,” and asked the crowd if it would return to the theatre and await the manager’s answer. The majority ot the crowd, however, was hostile to tfi'e suggestion. For twenty-five minutes Mr. Northmore argued and pleaded with the men He pointed out that tho hospital board had already offered unemployed married men a dayLs work during each stand-down week at a remuneration of 12s, instead of relief in kind. The men’s point of view, as stated by the leaders, was that all other hospital boards gave the unemployed rations during the stand-down week, and that no work was demanded in return. They insisted that the same measure of relief should be extended to the unemployed of Huntly. The argument was cut short when one man called out: “Hands up who will help themselves!” A large number immediately raised their hands.

Mr. Northmore said: “It is break ing the law, and you will only be punished.”

Next minute about thirty of the men and women started to gather up goods from tho counter and shelves while the rest looked on. Several Maoris procured sugar bags and filled them with provisions, throwing them over their shoulders and walking out.

Mr. Northmore continued to plead with tho men as the looting was m progress. “You know very well,” he said, “that if-any of you were starving I would help you, but you are not. ’» The crowd ignored his remarks and continued to gather up provisions. While the looting was in progress pickets were posted at the front, and back doors to warn the crowd if the police should approach.* A lady assistant, however, retired to a rear room Ind telephoned for the police. Police at Lunch Owing to it being the lunch hour, three members of the police force who were in Huntly were at their homes having their mid-day meal, and when they arrived tho crowd had dispersed. Mr. i Northmore stated that he was at a loss to understand why the Farmers’ Trading Company should have been singled out for attention seeing that. hc< had previously granted the strikers relief. On an earlier occasion he had advanced £5O worth of provisions, and the strikers had raised sufficient money by donations and entertainments to pay the account within a month. Tn view of his help in the past he could not understand why his store should have been the one to suffer. MORE ARRESTS MADE. I Per Press Association.] HAMILTON, May 20. A further 12 arrests were made today in connection with the Hui.tlv relief incident yesterday.