Clash With Police

Wairarapa Daily Times, 12 May 1932, Page 5

Clash With Police

lifer IN WELLINGTON I BIG CROWD ROUTED. MANY CASUALTIES. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An attempt by striking relief workers imd unemployed to bold a mass meeting 1 on a vacant section in Uppoi Cuba Street this afternoon precipitated a brief but ugly clash with the police. Within the space of two minutes, a threatening crowd of 2000 was routed and scattered, mounted and foot constables giving no quarter in a lightning (baton charge. The strikers and unemployed, were embroiled in the melee by militant leaders,, who defied the ban on outdoor and ignored the appeals of officials. Throughout the morning and. early afternoon an atmosphere of tension existed in the Vivian Street area, particularly in the vicinity of the Trades where meeting after meeting was helctby the strikers’ delegates. At 3.30 p.m. an attempt was made to hold a full meeting of strikers in the Trades Hall Dance Hall. In a few minutes the hall, stairways and corridors, on every floor were jambed with humanity, and from those who had no hope of admittance to the meeting came the cry: “To the vacant section in Upper Cuba Street.” The instruction was repeated by the leaders and acted upon excitedly. Hundreds poured out of the building and flocked along Vivian Street, where they were reinforced by hundreds more. No formation was suggested or attempted, the crowd blocking the entire thoroughfare as It proceeded to Upper Cuba Street. A strong force of police, under Inspector J. Lander, accompanied the demonstrators, and special police with steel hats were drawn up in double ranks at the intersection of & 'ian and Cuba Streets, but no attempt was made to disperse the ciowd or to interfere with its movements. When the vacant section was reached, the crowd, which at that time was about 2000 strong, completely filled it. A mingling of the overflow and of curious onlookers lined the fences on three sides of the area. Hundreds more curiosity seekers blocked the Cuba Street footpaths. Inspector Lander warned the leaders that their speeches must be brief. Mr Kelly, who was prominent in yesterday’s demonstrations, was the second speaker, and was referring to the Alliance of Labour arranging for a oneday strike, when Inspector Lander said: “That’s enough.” Mr Kelly continued, but was pulled from the box. Instantly a shower of bricks and stones came from a corner of' the section. “Get at them!” shouted Inspector Lander. The police swept forward with batons drawn and the crowd stampeded in 7 *all directions. Many were pushed against-Ahe fences, which gave way, and scrambled through back yards, pursued by constables who belaboured all who stopped or turned. Mounted constables-.-also. mp-ved among the fleeing crowd. As a result of the disturbances this afternoon a number of persons were treated by the Free Ambulance and at the Hospital for minor casualties. Only one man received severe enough injuries to warrant his being detained in hospital, that being a broken leg sustained when he fell off a fence. Aseer tainable injuries are as follow: —Francis Walker, labourer, c/o City Mission, broken leg, in hospital. The following were treated at ,tlie hospital and discharged:—D. Donald, labourer, 87 Ttintoul Street, head injuries; W. Breinner, labourer, 12 Findlay Terrace, head injuries; J. Calver, labourer, 27 BraithStreet, head injuries; H. Mather, labourer, 39 Nairn Street, head injuries. The following Avere treated by the Free Ambulance:—.!. Turner, seaman, 26 Lome Street, contused Avound to scalp; H. Le£^fclabourer, c/o King’s Hotel, abrasions to legs; H. DoAvler, seaman, 174 Sydney Street, cuts on hand. By means of a spanner thrown from .. a passing motor A r ehiele, a large plate glass AvindoAV on the ground floor of the premises of John Chambers and Son, Ltd., engineers, Cable Street, was broken about 9.25 o’clock this eve ling. A number of men Avere inside the budding at the time, and ivlien they rushed out into the street they could see Avhat appeared to be a motor truck disappearing in the distance. Lambton Quay and Willis Street, where the damage Avas done last evening, are still being patrolled by specials. The Cuba, Taranaki and Vivian Streets ' „ area is under the protection of the regular police. Meetings Avere held in - the Trades Hall this evening and a f large number of isolated groups were about this area, but the police tactJg£illy kept them moving. About 10.30 the streets Avere comparatively quiet, and most of those Avho had been Avaiting about began to drift away.—(P.A.) OFFICIAL STATEMENT. Wednesday. The of Police (Mr W. G. Wohbnann) made the following statement this evening:—“My information is that a large gathering out iide of the Trades Hall this afternoon could not gain admission, and occupied a vacant section nearby/ Delegates from the hall Avere given permission by an Inspector of Police to inform this croAvd, of the result of the meeting inside the Trades Hall and to deliver a statement to them. In defiance of this request, a well-knoAvn Communist named Kelly mounted a soap box and comjt. nienced addressing the meeting. He Avas warned to desist, but refused. Steps were then taken to prevent him continuing his speech, with the result that stones and bricks Avere throAvn at the police by members of the crowd. The police Avere forced to disperse the croAvd by draAving their batons, and in the melee that ensued some ten were injur-

ed, none of them seriously, and a number Avere removed to hospital for temporary treatment. This evening, a very large crowd, estimated at betAveen 2000 and 3000 persons, apparently composed to a considerable extent of sightseers, remained persistently in the neighbourhood of Cuba and I ivian Streets. By careful restraint, a large force of police Avho.were present succeeded, about 10 o’clock, in inducing them to go quietly home.”—(P..) WORK OF AGITATORS. WELLING TON, Wednesday. On behalf of officials at the Trades Hall, Mr A. J. Cook stated this evening that the action taken by the striking relief workers in assembling in UpI per Cuba Street had been in direct opposition to the advice of Labour officials and politicians. “The men Avere led into the melee by irresponsibles and Communists, only to get knocked about,” said Mr Cook. “Responsible officials at the Trades Hall did everything possible to stop them.” Mr Cook added that Labour officials had formed a committee, including relief workers’ delegates, and set about discussing the position, but among tho strike leaders appointed to the committee Avere Messrs Kelly and Sandford, who urged an immediate decision on the one-day strike question, and announced their intention of assembling the strikers. Mr Ivellv Avas told definitely that tho Labour representatives could not in any Avay commit industrial organisations, and lie and Mr Sandford were advised not to attempt to hold meetings of relief Avorkers and unemployed. The trvo delegates ignored the warning and called a meeting of the men. As far as the one-day strike question avus concerned, said Mr Cook, the replies of unions had not yet been received or considered, and nothing definite had been decided upon.—(P.A.) STRIKERS’ DEMANDS. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Relief Workers’ Strike Committee to-day decided to submit the following conditions to the Government as a basis of a. return to work: —Single men, two days at 12s Gd and reinstatement on relief Avorks of men in camp; married men, none or one child, three days at 12s 6d; two or three children, four days; and four or more children, five days at 12s fid. No stand-down for any section. Free transport to and from work. Exemption from unemployment levj'. Shelters on all jobs. Full pay and no Avork in Avet Aveather. “In A T icAV of Avhat has happened, I Avill postpone making any statement until the men resume work.” In these Avords, the Minister of Employment (tho Right Hon. J. G. Coates) gUA'e his final reply to the relief Avorkers on Avhose behalf he Avas approached by deputations yesterday afternoon. “It. must be clear to all,” he said, “that as a result of' last evening’s happenings, tho position is entirely changed, and that the undertaking given on the part of intervieAvers Avas not observed.” This statement Avas made subsequent to a further meeting in the cA’ening between Mr Coates and the Mayor, the deputy-chairman of the Mayor’s Relief Committee, and representatives of the Hospital Board. —(P..) ALL QUIET. WELLINGTON, This Day. It is a Avet morning again and the city is normal and quiet. There is no Avork on the Avaterfront oAving to the weather, and a fcAV of the men went up to the Trades Hall, causing rumours to get about, but there is nothing in them. The Hon. J. G. Coates Avill receive an unemployed deputation this morning.—(P.A.) MORE MEN CHARGED. WELLINGTON, This Day. Ten men arrested in the city yesterday in connection Avitli tho disturbances appeared before Mr Page, S.M., and Avere remanded till to-morrOAV. The police stated that the charges AA r ere similar to those adjourned yesterday. Bail Avas fixed at £IOO each. To-day’s charges are mostly of haA*ing incited lawlessness or having been ■found by night armed with an offensive Aveapon. An old age pensioner, Henry Drydcn, aged 81, aalio failed to iuga’c on when requested to by a constable, Avas fined 10/- on a charge of Avilful obstruction. On a charge of indecent language ho Avas convicted and discharged. "(P.A.)