STRIKE OF POLICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1923, Page 1

STRIKE OF POLICE.

STRIKE CONTINUES. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. MELBOURNE, Nov. 3. The police strike continues, hut tlie strikers offered to resume if espionage against which they have repeatedly complained, is abolished. THE AIEN’S GRIEVANCE. MELBOURNE, Nov. 3. The police strikers, at a mass meeting to-day adopted a resolution in condemnation of the. system of espionage, and pointing out that in view o. r their repeated requests for its abolition they regretted the necessity for thenpresent action. The men on strike- were prepared to resume provided there was no victimisation, and that fair consideration would he given to their grievances. .STATE PREAIIER’S STATEMENT MELBOURNE, Nov. 3. The Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Afr Lawson, states that the Ministiy was in constant session last night till a late hour, when it. was decided to form a citizen’s corps to co-operate with the Government and with the loyal members of the force. He said the Ministry views with the gravest concern the action of certain men, who, while under oath, deliberately refused duty, thus striking at the foundation of ordered Government. Such action cannot he tolerated by any government worthy of the name. It is unthinkable that the police should take the law into their own hands. The Ministry is taking the proper precautions to safeguard life and property and il calls on all the citizens to help in the preservation of peace. A BEN’S COAIPROAIISE REFUSEDMELBOURNE, Nov. 3. Representatives of the police, strikers asked Air Lawson, Premier, to renew the offer of the previous night. The Premier refused. ATr Lawson added: ‘Tt is too late to easily overlook the police action. The only terms on which tlie Alinistry wit. offer are that the men return to their duties unconditionally. In consequence of their being clashes between loyalists and the public, twelve citizens are now in tlie hospital suffering from injuries front batons. It is reported that the tramway men may join the police strike to-day. NIGHT OF RIOTS. MELBOURNE, Nov. 4. Unparullelled scenes resulting from lli„ police strike, were witnessed in Bon ike and Swaiiston Streets. Tlie loyalist police were savagely attacked by tlie crowds. Crowds smashed shop windows and looted the premises. A small party of bluejackets made an unsuccessful effort to protect the shops, hut t-hev were so severely handled that till of them were injured. A tram was pushed from tlie rails and the passengers were thrown out and trampled on. Tlie Fire Brigade then dashed through the crowd, and .scattered them, but this measure was only temporarily effective. The rioting continued, trams being compelled to stop, any plate glass windows were smashed. A man was pushed through one- window, and had his throat, terribly gashed. Fifty-seven casualties have been treated in the hospital as tHo result of rioting. At one stage of tlie disorder, a. corporal of the Citizens Forces appeared, carrying a ritle. He was greeted with yells of rage and was knocked down., and the rifle was taken lrom him. One hundred special constables wore enrolled at the Town Rail, and, with tile aid of the police who remained loyal, the rowdy element- was routed. AVhon it- was reported to tlie- Naval authorities that some sailors had been injured, a- patrol was despatched from tlie destroyers-. It rushed to the scene in taxi-cabs, and rescued their comrades. Thousands of pounds worth of goods were looted from ships. The thieves were carrying the proceeds of robberies openly through ihc streets. The rioting continued till after nine o’clock, the crowd getting more and more out of hand.

!ly tlio police and special con stables fired a volley in the air. Then alter repeated clharges with batons, they drove 1:1 10 crowd before them. As the night wore on, the rioting became more and more unrestrained, and the looting increased, the jewellers shops being the first to suffer. The- Cabinet, asked the managements of the various entertainments to call for returned soldiers to stop the looting. This was done, men responding freely. I.ater the disorder became more pronounced. There were mobs, unrestrainedly looting and damaging property, They rushed the theatres, and terrified the audiences. who were listening <](takingly to the sounds or revolver shots and breaking glass. So far one death is reported, a man Ixdng found in a dying condition ill tho street. Later in the evening a crowd attacked Collins Street, gangs of hooligans parading up and down with booty on their shoulders, which they put up to auction in the street, buyers being freely forthcoming. By a late hour at night, the police had the position well in hand, the various gangs dispersing, although not without serious fighting. During the height of tho rioting, 62 people were treated in tho hospital in an hour. There is no estimate of damage yet possible, though it must amount to many thousands. In one shop alone, three thousand pounds worth of jewellery was lost. APPEAL TO POLICE. AIEI.BOCRXE, October 4. The Police Association has carried a resolution urging the police to return to duty immediately, in the public interests, and to submit their grievances to arbitration. PACING NEWS DELAYED. WELLINGTON, November 4. News of tho result of the Victoria Derby oit Saturday was delayed for Now Zealand through an unfortunate hold-up in the Australian Government telegraph lilies. It did not reach Wellington till too late for despatch tc any but a few stations. The cause • the delay is .so far unexplained, hut it is surmised that possibly it is associated with the troubles arising out of the disorders prevailing in Melbourne veterday on account of the police strike.

HOLDS UP TRAFFIC IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, Nov. 3. Dramatic develoments followed tlie refusal of the day police to commence their duties. Police were hurriedly convoyed from country centres, but on arrival at headquarters joined the strikers, and were discharged. Unruly crowds blocked the principal thoroughfares at night, with an ever present tendency towards hooliganism. A detachment of loyal police were hemmed in at a sub-depot at the Tow n Hall by a crowd of nine hundred, hut they cleared a passage by playing the tire hose on the human mass. A Detachment of forty police paraded Swaiiston Street, with batons drawn to keep the crowd in order. The strikers ret used tlie request tlie of Victorian Racing flub that a squad of police be permited to go to Flemington to regulate the traffic. THREE DONE TO DEATH. RIOTER SHOT. MELBOURNE. Nov. 4, 'i'he rioting continues, the crowd being thoroughly out of hand, and the loyal police are powerless. There were three violent deaths. A young man, unidentified, was found in tlie Park with his head battered in. Two men wore attempting to enter a wine cafe in the city when an altercation occurred with the proprietor. Two shots were fired. One of the intruders is dead, and the other was wounded. The proprietor surrendered to the police but no charge was laid against him.

ing of Parliament as to whether this is it breach of Air Roiiur Law's pledge re Imperial preference. Proposals are being worked out and will be submitted to the Dominion p,.„. They are not to he dealt with at ibis (Vinter ewe, but will form an issue at the election.