AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—-Per Press Association.)

UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATE

POLICE STONED BY MOB

SYDNEY, July 28

Amazing scenes were witnessed in Adelaide, the city of churches, at the week-end when mobs of unemployed riotd and stoned the police. A regulation prohibits public speaking in the streets without special permits, and on Friday night, when speakers at a demonstration in Victoria Street were asked by police to move on they refused to do so. Attempts on the part of the police to force them to do so met with determined resistance, and subsequently police were roughly handled, the disturbance developing into a riot.

Inspector Trotter was foiled by a blow from behind, and liis attackers sat on him and banged his head several times on the ground. Later be collapsed, and was semi-conscious for an hour.

Mounted police were eventually requistioned to restore order, and police who were taking arrested men to tfic stations were stoned by riders.

On Saturday night unemployed leaders again attempted to hold meetings in Victoria Square. They commenced to speak on lawns surrounded by iron railings, which prevented mounted troopers operating. Cleared out of the railed area by a strong force of foot police, a huge crowd, for the most part drawn by curiosity, or out of Saturday night’s shopping centres, streamed along the Square to Grote Street, opposite the Trades’ Hal?. Several arrests wore made as extremists attempted to harangue the crowd, and there, was some random stone throwing. Subsequently mounted troopers rode abreast along the footpaths even in front of the brilliantly lit shops. They were polite but firm in their repeated requests to the crowd to “ move on.” Six members of the unemployed appeared at the Port Adelaide Police Court, charged with having failed to “ move on ” when requested to do so. Three were sent to gaol for 14 days, one for seven days, and two others were fined.

KLEPTOM ANIAC’S COLLECTION. USELESS THEFTS OF 37 YEARS. SYDNEY, July 38. An arrest on a charge of petty theft from one of Sydney’s big stores this week led detectives to the discovery of an extensive plant of tools, worth £IO9O, the collection over a period ot 37 years, of a confirmed kleptomaniac. The man arrested is a professional man with an extensive practice, is credited with possessing ample means, yet was caught in the act of stealing a small tool worth 3s from an ironmongery firm last Friday. A subsequent search of bis professional chambers brought to light tools of various kinds, embracing those used in many trades, which are allegedly stolen.

But these were infinitesimal compared with the display found by police in a large shed at the rear of his home. On the door of the shed was a printed notice which said: “Do not ask for the loan of tools as a refusal often offends,”

Yet, ranged on shelves and in boxes packed from floor to ceiling, were dozens of spanners, wire cutters, drills, oilcans, files, nails, braces and bits, compasses, screwdrivers, saws, vices, clamps, knives, spirit levels, planes, wire gauges, emery wheels, dies and punches.

These were but a few of the tools of alt trades taken possession of by the police. In addition there was a miscellaneous assortment ol other goods ranging from fly hooks and door knobs to wireless apparatus, a telephone, and even a role of theatre entrance tickets. Four tables at police headquarters were necessary to display the collection, most of which was subsequently identified as stuff missed from city stores.

SYDNEY CENOTAPH. SYDNEY, Aug. 8

In tin 1 presence of an enormous crowd, the Premier. Mr Lang, dedicated the Cenotaph in Marlin Place to the memory of those who died in the war. The ceremony was most impressive. The square block of Mornya. granite, on which is inscribed “To Our Glorious Dead” and “Lest We Forgot." is a liecoming, sacred monument for future generations, to those who fell in the Great War. The ceremony, which was attended by the State Governor. and the Consular body, was very simple. Mr Lang, in his dedication speech, said: These men believed that their country was in danger, and gave their lives to keep her free. Nothing a. future historian could discover, could embellish their noble deed, and nothing that may he found could diminish the glory of their sacrifice.