MOB RULE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 230, 28 September 1928, Page 7

MOB RULE.

\VATERB"RONT RIOTS

Strikers And Workless Run

Amok At Adelaide.

PROTECTION FOR VOLUNTEERS

(Received 11 a.m.)

ADELAIDE, this day,

The police authorities declare that thf serious rioting which took place yesterday at Port Adelaide was due to hundreds of unemployed linking i;p wit h the waterside strikers and thus making nearly 5000, who took the police completely hv surprise. One volunteer was horribly assaulted on the ground with a cargo hook, which was driven into his thighs, then he was kicked.

1 iio Premier, Mr. Butler, called a special Cabinet meeting and later decl.irrii that the Government intended to give the volunteers all the protection needed. He stated that the Government was determined to stamp out mob rule.

Th« striking workers took charge of the port. They marched in procession from the Trades Hall over Robinson's Bridge. The police made no attempt to prevent them reaching the free labour bureau on the other side.

Tho strikers swarmed over the closed pates of the bureau and chased the volunteer workers, who ran in all direction'. There were many fights.

The free labourers were first thrashed and then allowed to escape. After that the strikers marched to three vessels which were lying at the wharves and being loaded.

Tho police made an effort to disperse the men and when reinforcements arrived finally broke the ranks of the rioters.

During the disturbance the strikers swarmed up the gangway of the steamer Xardana and started working the winches and moving the cargo. Others tried to loosen the lines which held the vessel tn the wharf. They desisted, however, when other rioters objected.

The strikers, who were armed with pieces of timber and stones, attacked the volunteers who were working on board the Nardana and chased them into the sheds on the wharf.

The demonstrators also attempted to board the German steamer Hanau, but the ship's officers, armed with revolvers and truncheons, kept them at a distance. The rioters bombarded the volunteers on deck with volleys of stones and coal.

Nine free labourers were severely injured before the remainder were ordered tinder hatches. Had not the union officials taken control of the situation at that stage matters might have been much more serious.

At the height of the disturbance 60 free labourers marched from the wharf, having been granted safe-conduct by the strikers on condition that they left work.

When the strikers attacked the vessels many of the volunteers jumped overboard and swam across the river to Birkenhead. In an incredibly short time not one of them was in sight from any of the vessels. A large contingent of police from Adelaide then arrived on the scene and conditions became quiet.

When the steamer Goondi arrived at the Goondi Mill wharf, Brisbane, to load the crcw gave notice that they were not willing to rig the tackle. Nor would they take the vessel to sea if it were loaded by the farmers.

The owners dismissed the entire crew and the farmers are now loading the vessel. They will also man her for the trip to Cairns.

Delegates from the Maritime Transport Conference to-day interviewed the Premier of Victoria, Mr. E. J. Hogan, about the waterfront dispute. Afterwards they said the only possibility of a settlement of the dispute was the withdrawal by the Federal Government of the registration regulations.

The shipowners informed Mr. Hogan that there could be no negotiations for a settlement until the men had returned to work under the new award in every port of the Commonwealth.

At Brisbane more than sufficient free labour is o^ering.