WILD SCENES IN SYDNEY

Chronicle (Levin), 19 March 1947, Page 5

WILD SCENES IN SYDNEY

Press Assn.-

Speakers At Mefiipg Kicked and Bashed

By Telegraph

-Copyriaht

Received Tuesday, 9.0 p.m. SYDNLY, Mar. 18.' Wild sceiies occurred in Sydney Domaiii this afternbbil wlieii 30(J or 400 waterside workers aird t'heii' syinpathisers, led by welh known Commuiiists, bashed, kicked and pushed a -group of citiz'ehs who had assembled to prot'est against the hoiding up oi' food ships. Mr. A. D. Bi-id'ges, Liheial M.L.C., received facial injuries ahd scveral oi her meinlrers in the crowd, including an eldbrly mah, were knocked down. The police made severn 1 ai'rbsts but their iiumbers were inadequate to affect the position. • Last night 100 lrren voluuteerbd at Manly to unload food ipom ships immobilised in port by the watersiders' strike. Mr. E. D. Darby, Liberal M.L.C., organised this afternoon 's meeting to attract more volunteers and ! to ask'i'or police protection. Shortjy before the nieeting 50 water-. siders were nearby shouting abusc at the organisers who were prepaiing to use a utility truck with amplifiers. Tlie numbers of watersiders steadily grew until a car fitted with a home-made amplifier drove into the Doinain. Through this eiiuipment Tom Nelson, former president of Ihe Sydney branch of the Watersider Workers' Lederation, commenced haranguing the crowd. He said that the Liberal Party was threatening the working class movement with organisation built along the lines of the New (Juard. At that stage the police asked the speaker for his liccnce. He replied that he did not have it . with him and after a short argument with an InSpector, resumed his address. Meanwhile Mr. Bridges atfemjited to address the crowd through the other system. He was rushed almost at'once by a mob of men who overturned the dais and attackcd him as lie lay 011 t!ie ground. t'ounty Councihor J. O. Cramer was involved in the hghting mob and' is suffering-.from an injured groin.

The Communj.?t eoup was well organised as two. hours before the mceting cars were driving round tlie waterfront urging all watersiders to attcnd. Tlie attack was launched 011 Mr. Bridges as if hy a prearrariged signal. Oonverging from all directions the men knocked him down, kicked and punched him. Mr. Darby ahd j\Ir. Cramer were also attacked at this stage. The police rushed 1o their assistance and within a few minutes motor-cyeles, truclcs and cars had delivered 200 extra police at the scene. Eight men were arrested immodiately and a cordon was formed inside which the battered speakers re-erected the platform and microphones. The opposition loud speaker continued to blarc, the microphone now being in the hands of Communist Stan Morgan. With blood streaming from a cut mouth, Mr. Bridges remounted the platform. Oatcalls, boos. hisses and cries of "Fascist" greeted him. After he had spoken for several minutes, with a section of the crowd trying to count him out, Mr. Darby joined-him on the platform. At once a man dived from behind the van through the cordon and swept Mr. Darby 's legs from under him in a flying tackie. Another man hrok-e the cordon and

fell on top of Mr. Darby. Both men were arrested while i\Ir. Darby remounted the platform and resumed his speech. This was iiiaudible due to the raucous yells of the hostile section of the crowd. After the police had quclled the fighting the Communist van wfent into action again and the spokesman, Adam Ogston, said: "I hope we have convinced Mr. Darby thatwe are not going to let this sort of thing go on." Mr. Bridges and' Mr. Darby tried to interview the Premier, Mr. McCirr, later in the afternoon but were informed that he. could not see them as the ITouse was abbut to resume. They were tbld that he would appoint auother Minister to handle the matter.