WILD SCENE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1930, Page 8

WILD SCENE

U.ilLSij'A'NE’S MAY DAY

UNEMPLOYED BIOT

SYDNEY, May 8. To Brisbane must be given the lum•„ur of staging the only May Day riots in Australia this year—a year when, it,vas generally expected, trouble would e encountered in various centres owing u) the large number of unemployed everywhere. In Queensland and in tlie militant mining section of New South •Vales, May Day is celebrated on the fist Monday in May, but the demonstrations in the mining centres of the Mother State were mild affairs, attended by tlie miners only. They encountered no opposition, and were able to say what they liked. The usual banners condemning capitalism were carried, nd fiery speeches were made. In the .-•ity of Sydney very few attended the May Day celebration on May Ist, and the only result worth recording is the arrest of' a number of nun for ■M-ing part in an unauthorised procession. Even this would not have happened had the procession been confined to that part of the city mentioned in .he permit granted by the police. But in Brisbane it was different There they had pitched battles in the streets, members of the One Big Union :’.f Unemployed being mainly responsible. The unemployed did not join up with the usual Labour Day procession as was anticipated, and, it was soon feared that they had planned a demonstration, that would lead to trouble. It was not long before about 50 of the unemployed commenced to make speeches, and as soon as they became inflammatory the police took action, ‘ft was not the present M-ore Government that abolished free speech,” said mie of them, “but the Labour Government during the waterside workers’ strike. This demonstration is only the second round in the fight for I roe speech. We intend to carry on even if every man is arrested.

F,ight policemen then rushed in and marie arrests. One man was struck witli at baton, and the police seized several placards. Following the arrest oi the demonstrators a crowd of about 10!) took, a hand in the proceedings and 'Jostled the police, who had trouble in keeping their feet. A man wlio applauded the police was set upon by'the militants. and he was .severely handled before he was rescued in a dazed condition. llis coat was then in tatters, and his hiit had been trampled on. One man who is alleged to have been the ringleader, was arrested.- For it time the position locked very ugly for the police but the arrival of reinforcements had the desired effect.

When matters seemed to be fairly quiet another man commenced to speak but the willing hands that nelped him to the ground immediately arrested him. As lie was being taken away it section of the militant unemployed rushed the police in an effort to save their mate. Once again they were

.Hiked by a plain clothes and uniformed phalanx, the outside men repelt ug the attacks with their batons, 'i in attest had it 'further sobering v effect on the demonstrators, who Horinecl . a procession and then commenced to march again. They were accompanied by large crowds among which the white helmets of the. police were particularly prominent.

Opposite the Brisbane railway station sections of the crowd began to hoot and with startling suddenness cries rang out, "Kill the bosses” army.”

1 e.mhers of the police force were unshed about and their ,wh te helmets were kicked around in the dust to the ' '’jjjht of a large section of the crowd. Once officer was injured when lie was punched on the face. Further police were at once rushed to the scene, and with batons drawn almost dispersed those who had taken part in the procession. Then all at once the fight broke out afresh, and batons wore used on ( tie side and lists, and boots on the

-titer. The situation was extremely dam gorous, and was certainly providing ”rishane \ with its most serious riot in recent years. About dO police were outraged at one stage, and order was restored ttmidst a lot of hooting amt booing.