WATERSIDE RIOT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1928, Page 6

WATERSIDE RIOT

THREE MEN SHOT

OX .MELBOURNE WHARF

STEVE DOPES BATON El)

(Australian Press Association) (United Service).

.MEI.BOURXE. November 2

A pitched battle between unionist stevedores and the police on the Pori .Melbourne pier to-day culminated in three unionists being shot. I be men shot were:— Allan Whittaker, who is in a serious condition, he having a bullet in tbe right side of bis jaw.

James Williams, who lias a bullet in bis left shoulder.

Two policemen, Holton and Caldwell, were injured with stones. Scores of the unionist stevedores re eoived minor injuries from the police batons. Several olf tbe unionists were thrown into tlie sea. These men either were rescued or paddled to safety.

A! out a thousand unionist stevedores gathered around the gates of tli Princes Pier in the morning and demanded admission. When this was refused them, they stormed the gates armed with slides and stones, and overwhelmed the police, whose batons were ineffective.

In consequence of Ibis the police wen* compelled to shoot. A battle raged for ball an hour before the infuriated mob of stevedores were dispersed. All work was at a standstill, and tbe Princes Pier was isolated. Pig over seas vessels, including the Chitral, were idle.

One hundred extra police were brought from tho country to .Melbourne to maintain order.

An aeroplane swooped down on tbe ri-d'-rs while tbe battle was in progress. The men feared that it would lire at tlmm with a. machine gun. 'I bey momentarily scattered, and ducked their beads, but nothing of the kind happened. A similar incident occurred yesterday wlien the cruiser “ Brisbane ” fired a gun. which was only being tested.

Shots were fired at a tug taking aboard volunteers at Port Melbourne in the afternoon, and stones were also thrown, one volunteer being injured. An attempt was r'so made to raid tbe steamer Port Ad -laido. but tbe chief officer drew bis revolver and repulsed tbe attackers.

Representatives of the unionists and the stevedores interviewed the premier of Victoria. Mr and asked Idm to restrain tho roli - Irom using iirearms, or otherwise fb ; unionists would have to resort to fi-earms themselves.

Mr Hogan gave the unionists to understand that the police were bound to preserve law rml order. He promised to call the Cabinet together to discuss the developments.