Wanton Destruction

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 116, 11 May 1932, Page 3

Wanton Destruction

By Wellington Hoodlums WINDOW SMASHING RAID BUSINESS FIRMS STAND THE BRUNT WELLINGTON, Tuesday. orgy of destruction in Lambton Quay and Willis Street was the outcome of a relief workers’ strike demonstration at Parliament Buildings late this afternoon. Breaking away from a huge crowd assembled at the gates in front of the Wai* Memorial, a small party of about 50 hoodlums had the city streets at their mercy for a brief period. In the gathering darkness they swept down the Quay and into Willis Street, smashing wantonly as they ran.

Plate glass windows and shopfronts from Bowen Street to Upper Willis Street and along Maimers Street were attacked

with missiles, sticks and the boots of the vandals. Damage which amounts to approximately £3OOO was all done within the space of barely 20 minutes. Between 140 and 150 windows were smashed.

A strong force of police concentrated at Parliament Build-

ings was unable to reach or outflank the perpetrators until scattered groups reached Manners Street and as far down as Cuba Street, where a number of arrests were made. There was little looting, and people in the streets were mostly amazed witnesses of the destruction. It was all the more senseless because it followed almost immediately upon an announcement by the leaders of the demonstration that the claims of the relief workers were to receive special consideration.

Lambton Quay was swept as though by a sudden tornado which disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Hundreds of striking relief workers tramped quietly along the glass strewn pavements in the wake of the vandals and the pursuing police. They were sobered and concerned by the evidence of destruction let loose as a result of the way they had chosen to air their grievances.

In The Beginning

Early in the afternoon an assembly of nearly 3000 at the Basin Reserve were informed by their leaders that the relief ■workers’ strike had been extended to practically every city and suburban job. Made bold by their numbers, the crowd decided to march to Parliament House and a procession was formed up.

Procession’s Progress

As the demonstrators proceeded up Cambridge Terrace they "were joii ■ d by unemployed onlookers and 500 relief workers from Miramar who had marched from the jobs in that area. The procession reached. Parliament House about 3 500 strong and a deputation was admitted at 3.30 p.m. to interview the Minister c.’ Employment, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. It was not until 5.10 p.m. that the members of the deputation returned to the waiting crowd and announced that a policy statement from the Minister would be published in the morning.

The strikers were asked to meet at the Basin Reserve at 10 o'clock next morning to discuss their position in the light of the move made by Mr. Coates. Clamour For Direct Action

The crowd roared its disapproval of the delay and there was a clamour for direct action, but the leaders managed to calm the majority, and an impromptu meeting was declared closed. It was then that a small minority broke away and ran amok, and the purposeless, lunatic window smashing began.

“We Want Coates”

Adopting a constitutional method on the advice of their leaders, the crowd had waited outside the gates while selected delegates were allowed through to the. interior of the buildings to interview Mr. Coates, protesting against the new scale of rates and the new conditions for relief workers. As time passed and they did not return, one man, a Mr. Kelly, who is well known as a leader in these demonstrations, led a series of addresses, mainly criticising the Government scheme in particular. “We want Coates!’’ called the crowd when admission to the grounds was persistently refused them, and the cry was quickly taken up and echoed throughout the big concourse. Several militant voices suggested storming the low concrete fence encircling the grounds and on one occasion a determined movement at the rear of the crowd forced the front rankers against the gates in a very ugly manner. Half a dozen speakers addressed the crowd, urging them to organise and take action in a constitutional but determined manner. A Leader’s Appeal.

At one stage when it appeared that the crowd would disregard the leaders’ advice and storm over the parapet, Mr Kelly exhorted them to wait for Mr Coates’ reply. “Let us get the reply,”'he said, “and consider it

to-night. Then, if we do not get satisfaction, to-morrow we can take action.” The majority of the crowd appeared disinclined to adopt this course and the cry was once more raised: “We want Coates!” while side arguments proceeded. Standards which had borne banners were thrown over the fence, but these were confiscated by policemen and smashed up. The attention of the assemblage was suddenly diverted from the gates to a nearby tree, up which a member of the militant section had climbed. He quickly commanded order and shouted for direct action. “Give them five minutes to get back,” he said, “and if they haven't an answer then, over the top we go.” Loud cheers greeted this suggestion. The leaders however again prevailed upon the good sense of the mob and sent an emissary up to the building to see how the deputation was faring. Mr P. Fraser Counted Out.

A little later Mr P. Fraser, M.P., arrived at the gates and was promptly counted out and boohed when he mounted a corner post to speak. He explained that the men's views had been represented to Mr Coates with the opinion that the new relief scheme was worse than the old. “Personally I am a hundred per cent with the men who have walked off their jobs,” Mr Fraser said amid cheers from the crowd and further counting out from another section. He urged constitutional action.

Members of the deputation to Mr Coates who endeavoured to explain the results of their mission to the ‘Minister were howled down at every sentence and the cry “We want Coates —bring him here!” was renewed with greater vigour. Mr Wohlmann, Police Commissioner. and Mr Cobbe, Minister of Justice, patrolled inside the grounds watching developments. The buildings themselves were well protected.

First Missile Thrown

Hundreds in the crowd by this time were feeling the effects of the bitter south wind and were in a nasty temper. Hoots and shouts of derision rose from all parts of the sea of faces, which looked almost eerie in the flood lights illuminating the Cenotaph. A brick was thrown, breaking a light globe, and an iron bar fell at the feet of a spectator.

“Up the town!” called someone, and the call spread with alarming rapidity. For a few moments no move was made in the direction of Lambton Quay, but when a small section of a few hundreds broke the main body hesitated and then followed. Mr Kelly and his associates tried vainly to shout the crowd into submission, inducing a few to stay, but the general movement was too strong and a scamper which led to rioting and destruction began.