STORE RAIDED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 124, 20 May 1932, Page 5

STORE RAIDED

By Auckland Looters

INCITING LAWLESSNESS

ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT

(Per Press Association)

HAMILTON, This Day

A preliminary sequel to yesterday’s disturbances at Huntly, when the premises of the Farmers’ Trading Company 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 l)Ir. Wyvern Wilson, S.M. Four were charged with the theft of groceries, valued at £lO, and with inciting and encouraging lawlessness. They were: — David Fuller (Australian) aged 32; Raymond Richards (England) 32; Albert Allen (England) 32; Joseph Bincham .(England) 50. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £lOO each. The following were charged with the theft of groceries valued at £10: Horatio Swindell (England) 47; Francis George Stevens (England) 44; James Moyes (Scotland) 50; Thomas Morgan (England) 44. Similar bail was allowed. On the application of the police, all the accused were remanded to appear at Huntly on Friday. FORTY MEN PARTICIPATE STATED FAMILIES STARVING (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, Last Night. Stating that their families were starving, a crowd of 40 unemployed surged into the Huntly branch of the Fanners’ Trading Company at about mid-day to-day, and despite an appeal from the manager (Mr W. H. Northmore) helped themselves to groceries and other foodstuffs on the shelves. No damage was done, but it was impossible for the depleted staff to stop the depredations of the looters. A large crowd stood outside while the men were taking the goods.

The men approached the local representative of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and were offered two days’ work. This the men refused, demanding sustenance. They subsequently held a meeting and decided to visit the Farmers’ Trading premises.

On entering the shop the men demanded £1 worth of goods each, to he charged up to the Charitable Aid Board.

On the manager’s refusal, the men. about 40 in number, in response to their loader’s appeal to help themselves, proceeded to fill sugar sacks and other receptacles with groceries. The men entered and left the shop in a comparatively orderly fashion. The value of the goods taken is estimated at £lO.

It was fortunate that the mines in the district are working; otherwise an ugly situation might have developed. The situation at. Huntly is being carefully watched by the police. Police parties left Hamilton and Auckland this afternoon for Huntly. EIGHT MEN ARRESTED ACCUSED TAKEN TO HAMILTON (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, Last Night. Following the thefts from the Farmers’ Trading Company store at Huntly to-day Superintendent Till and a force of 12 constables from Auckland arrived at 5 p.m., and immediate steps were taken to arrest some of those who had taken part in the affair. Eight arrests were effected at various dwellings in town. The-arrested men were conveyed to-night to Hamilton, and will appear in the Hamilton Court to-morrow morning, when they will probably be remanded to appear at Huntlv in a week.

Members of the Waipukurau Operatic Society who have vocal scores of U A Runaway Girl” and are willing to sell them are asked to hand them in to the secretary, Mr J. Boyce, without delay. These scores are urgently required for another society.