DISORDER IN THE CITY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 8

DISORDER IN THE CITY.

THIRTY-EIGHT ARRESTS MADE.

HOTEL HOURS RESTRICTED

(ritXSS ASSOCIATION TELEGEAM.) AUCKLAND, November 27

Thirty-eight men were arrested within a couple of hours in the latter part of the afternoon on charges of drunkenness and consequent offences. There was a good deal of disorder in the lower part of the city, and a large force of foot and mounted police was engaged for nearly an hour in controlling the traffic.

During the previous nineteen days all city and suburban hotels had been closed by magisterial orders, and they were opened to-day only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., upon condition that no liquor was sold for consumption off licensed premises. A close watch was kept on the hotels by the police, and although good trade was done in the bars, no disturbance had occurred when the city magistrates again met to review the matter. Consequently they decided to allow the bars to be open tomorrow from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and also, if there was no apparent reason for further restriction, to suspend the existing order on Saturday, and so allow the hotels to remain open; till 10 p.m. The disturbance in Queen street occurred later in the afternoon, and the magistrates reviowed tSeir decision. They decided it would be advisable to close the bars at 5 p.m. to-morrow, and the therefore be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. This decision was made ''in consequence of-the excessive amount of drunkenness." The magistrates will again consider the restriction of hours to-morrow.

AH arrests were < made in Queen street or its vicinity. There was no serious disturbance, but as the hour of .closing approached groups of drunken men gathered on the footpaths, and in many cases obstinately refused to move away. A great deal of coarse language was used, until finally the police were instructed to break up these groups and arrest anyone behaving offensively. The appearance of mounted constables attracted many curious spectator's, but all were "moved on" indiscriminately. Special police were working under the instructions of uniformed men, and no arrests were made without authority of the latter.

Twenty-two men were arrested on charges of drtmkennessj and a similar charge was made against sixteen others, of whom six were also charged with disorderly behaviour, three with jissault, three with using obscene language, two with resisting the police, one with disorderly behaviour and resisting the police, and one with inciting others to resist arrest. The men were described to the police as seamen, waterside workers, and general labourers, and in addition seveTal of them are known to the police as "undesirable character!."