SYDNEY “PUSHES.”

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1925, Page 4

SYDNEY “PUSHES.”

ASS.U'LTS IN PARES. SYDNEY, March 11. • The brutal assault, in one ol the city parks recently, upon a young man who i chivalrously vein to the aid of a girl, and who now lies in a critical condition in hospital, and is likely to be ren- - doled speechless for life, has directed i attention to the laet that the ptlsiies who a few years ago made il unsafe 1 for one lo go through some parts ol j the city ami .suburbs at night have'not I been wholly wiped out. C olleelivelv, I these youths are as brave as liolls. hilt 1 individually they are abject < "Wards. The dihicuty. however, is to catch them singly. The big green spaces which border the city, and which, as “ lungs 0 of tlu- city,” in" o been dedicated lo I' the public for rest and recreation, arc [; so constantly the resort of “pushes and drunkards, and the seiu-e.nl me decent behaviour, that detent citizens are inclined to avoid them. The latest l ’ assault, one of I In- most Imital and cnlt lons in Sydney’s history, has given ,t rise to a public agitation, for the better •s lighting of tlm parks and for the more oflii-ient supervision of them by Hie S police. The attitude of the inspector 10 General of Police and the . the Lord P- .Davor suggests that the agitation is v, |jj. ,| v f () 1.,, fruitful of good results. "■ Tlie outcry will probably also strengthen Yr the demand for increasing the police •e force, for it: seems’ clear that il more )r men are to he detailed for the siiperis vision of Svdney’s big stretches ot

parks, police protection in other directions will be weakened. Not only is tlu- force iimleni-aiim-d, but there is the absurd spciia-.je of must. ibles be-

ing called upon to perforin miiltilanous goTenimenla! duties which are <p"te foreign to police work. 'lhal lamkm,,m and ils attendant evils are not to he” treated with impunity is evident Darlimihursl sessi -us, when one of a gang of larrikins was given twelve ii- )>:iha’ im-11 Isoiimi-lil h-r a-mult. It las not been safe to v -at are about alone after night tall in certain of the nan-;- congested nunnerx. SYDNEY. March 19.

jhe police, with their forces well marshalled, have laum hcd a strong offensive again -1 Ihe ••pushes.” People \> !io have liv'd in Fydney many \eara st HI wit h soiil-l hiug of a

thrill, lie- • i’ll lit ” "Im. .tears ago had fiin.iidablc and elahoriile tn-gaitisa-iioii.--. wild fought j, itched battles in ;h,. ouhiic i-.iirks, and who esiahlish.-d sometiiiii -; like a reign of terror, making such areas as '! ho Rocks, near ( ireniar i.uay, before ii was cleaned up, am! remodelled, and places like Wuol-l-.Kiioooluo iiiisale spots for pedestrians. Aovcite will) went into tliese places alone af night when the ••puslies” were rampant simply courted trouble. If lie was not .sand-bagged, or hit on the head with a bottle, he was lucky. Only a vigorous police campaign, and; exemplary sentences, including a hang-, ing or two where murder was committed, served lo rid Sydney of the menace. The “pushes” in Sydney to-day, • while they have some ol the characierislic.s of their notorious predecessors, are at present less dangerous, and

not C| uite as lawless. they arc chiefly youth.;, and hoys, hut the police regard them as a serious element if unchecked. Many of I lie mens iuleslod bv i hem are now being cleaned up. and the police have now calk'd in the 1 municipalities to assist them in their crusade by keeping the parks and other reserves free of these graduates into the ranks of full-fledged criminals.