YESTERDAYS DISTURBANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11264, 3 February 1912, Page 5

YESTERDAYS DISTURBANCE.

STRIKERS' PART MINIMISED.

DUE TO ROWDY ELEMENT,

Received Saturday, at 9 a.m. BRISBANE, Saturday. Later reports to some extent minimise the striker' parts in yesterday's disturbance, and show that it was the outcome of a determination on tho part of tho authorities to assert their power and maintain law and order. Previously the odds were too strong for tho crowds to bo kept; strictly in order; but large accessions to tho police force, with tho addition of hundreds of special constables, placed the Government in a position, to take firmer action. A FREE HAND. Tho Premier gave tho Commissioner of Police a free- hand to deal with tho situation, and tho police did tho work of clearing the streets well and effectually, and on the whole tactfully. Considering tho many brushes with the strikers, very little damage, was done, outside of a, few broken heads and minor injuries. FROM PILLAR TO POST. The strikers were surprised at the chango of tactics, and resented being hustled from pillar to post, but only in a few instances did they attempt anything like retaliatory violence, thoro being only isolated instances of the use of sticks and stones. THE ROWDY ELEMENT. The strikers as a body claim that, any real resistance that did occur was caused by a small section of the rowdy (dement. MILITARY AID APPLIED FOR. The Premier states that, he lias applied to tho Commonwealth Government for military aid if it is found necessary, but no reply has been received. LAW AND ORDER TO BE RESTORED. Ho informed a deputation of Labour members, who asked him to call Parliament together to consider the question of purchasing the tramways and other matters connected with tho strike, that ho had no intention of calling Parliament together m order to seek coercive power. There was sufficient power on tho Statute Book to secure the restoration of law and order, and he intended to use it.