SERIOUS DISTURBANCE

Chronicle (Levin), 4 March 1946, Page 7

SERIOUS DISTURBANCE

-Press Association

CIVILIANS, SERVICEMEN ANJD POLICE CLASH

By Tvlcgraph —

AUCKLAND, March 3. At leasl 50 civiliaus, Servicemen and ;>niicm:ien were embroiled in a serious dist urbance, largcl.v preeipitated by Maoris, iu an amusement park at the corner of t^ueen aud Myers Streels on Saturday evening. As a result of the troubli!, which eontinued for about Lli reequn rl ers of an liour, a number of inen i 1 1 appear in tli Po!*l'e Coui't to Lice various eharges, ineluding assault and (distructiiig and resisting polieei meii in the execution of their dutv. | .Severtil lumdred })eople gathered, •ompletely blocking Xlyers Street and extendiirg out ac.ross Queen Street toward the tramlines. Wome men went to the assistam-e of the poliee who, ali though hopelessly outnumbered, were i trying valiautlv to make arrests, and otliers joined in against tliem. At one Lstall the crowd appeared to be com- ' pletelv out of hand, bottles as well as ; abuse being liuried at the poliee who, i arnied with handcuffs, had to adopt istern measures before they aehieved i control of the uielee. Batons, however, | wei'e no t drawn at uny stage. Al though ! u nuinber of poliee suffered bruises and i euts and even bites, none was seriously ! injured.