POLICE ACTION

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 119, 14 May 1932, Page 3

POLICE ACTION

In Wellington Fracas

STRIKERS REQUEST INQUIRY AND TRANSFER OF INSPECTOR (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, Last Night. An inquiry by a judicial body into the clash between the police and the unemployed in Upper Cuba street on Wednesday with a view to ascertaining whether the police acted rashly and with unwarranted severity, was sought by a deputation on behalf of the relief work strikers which waited on the Minister of Justice (Hon. J. G'. Cobbc) to-day.

Assertions were made that there haft been no call for such harsh action without some warning having been given, and the Minister was asked to transfer Inspector J. Lander to another part of the Dominion.

Mr Cobbe said that he “would not dream” of transferring Inspector Lander, adding that before such a step could be taken a very thorough inquiry would have to be made.

Whereas members of the deputation declared that the police had charged the crowd before the missiles were thrown, both the Minister and Mr Wohlmann, Commissioner of Police, who -was present, said that there was clear evidence that the police were stoned before they were forced to resort to direct action.

Mr Cobbe promised to investigate the sworn statements of eye-witnesses produced by the deputation, which included Wellington Labour members of Parliament, strikers, and Messrs A. Parlane, representing the Drivers’ Union, W. T. Young, president, and F. C. Cornwell, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, and A. Black, representing the Amalgamated Engineers. Unemployed Not to Blame Mr P. Fraser M.P., for Wellington Central, said that hundreds of offers had been made by people anxious to make sworn statements on the events that occurred on the section. Time had permitted only 16 to be prepared, and these would be left for the Minister’s perusal. “That afternoon I was in the Trades Hall when I heard a shout that made my heart sink,” Mr. Fraser said. “It was a shout among the men to go to a vacant section, in Cuba street. I knev? that outdoor meetings were prohibited, and when I heard that I thought that something disastrous was almost sure to occur. The suggestion to go to the Cuba street section arose because about 2000 or 3000 were unable to gam entrance to the meeting in the Trades Hall, which would hold only about 700 or 800 at the most.

“At this stage I think it is well to make it perfectly clear that the bona f ie workers who loft their jobs and v ho are on strike had absolutely nothing to do with the disgraceful affair on Tuesday night ’ ? Mr Fraser said. ‘ ‘They strongly condemn it. In my opinion the wild element went there with the

express intention, if the opportunity' arose, for doing damage. Were Missiles Thrown First “It would be better for everyone* concerned if all who resorted to such, tactics were put out of the way of doing harm.” Mr Fraser went on to refei’ to whether or not the charge was ordered beforethe missiles were thrown. He said that ho had questioned hundreds of" witnesses, all of whom said that the missiles were not thrown until Mr Kelly was thrown down. Only one elderly man thought, and he was not. sure, that something was thrown before this. The Minister drew attention to thefact that the trouble in both Auckland and Wellington had, started through those on the outskirts of the crowd breaking away intent on doing damage. His information was that InspectorLander was induced to tell Mr Kelly to stop talking because he started to make remarks about a one-day strike. In addition, the Minister was definitely informed that stones werethrown first by the crowd. Everyone who had been interrogated said that the police took no action until stones were flung at them. Mr Wohlmann said that Inspector Lander allowed three minutes for the speakers to announce the decisions made at the meeting. Mr Kelly was; told to get down after he had referred to the one-day strike, but he persisted in talking. It was- then that bricks and stones, as well as lumps of concrete,, were flung. Bottles Thrown There were only 20 constables, with? a few mounted men, and they could not have withstood such a barrage for any length of time, and the only thing left to do was to disperse the crowd. Behind one of the fences was a case of empty bottles, and some of the men in the crowd used these as missiles to throw at the police. The police had given the genuine unemployed every consideration on every occasion. “Wo have allowed you to hold meet' ings and processions whore wo could do it, and the result is what wo saw on Wednesday” Mr Wohlmann added. “Now we have to stop your meetings for the time being.’'

Mr Cobbe said that he would not dream of transferring Inspector Lander in accordance with the request of the deputation. A very thorough investigation would have to be earned out before such a drastic step was taken. At the present time the evidence showed that the police carried out their duty as the circumstances dictated, and the newspaper reports bore that out. Women and Children Mr Fraser: You would not suggest that if evidence were produced thatwomen and children wore batoned it Would bo duty? Mr Cobbe: Do you think it is wisefor women and children to get into a. crowd like that? Mr Fraser: No; entirely unwise. The Minister promised to go through the affidavits produced by the deputation and to review the circumstances of the case. In the meantime he could do no more than inquire into the evidence that was to be had.