UNEMPLOYED CLASH

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1931, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED CLASH

PARTICIPANTS IN COURT. (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 12. “If you liad set out to do yourselves ii. bad turn you could not have been more successful,” said Magistrate Woodward to-day, when sentencing those arrested for participating in the Tuesday unemployed clash wi'th the police. “Such a demonstration loses your public sympathy and you can’t afford that.” The Magistrate said that he would make allowance for the present trouble and excitement of the moment . and the fact that the majority of the accused were usually respectable citizens .whom he didn’t • think wohld repeat the offence. He stated those who had thrown bricks may even have committed murder. Henry Powell (21) a fireman, for ot>» structing the police, was sentenced to one month’s gaol. Three others were fined £5, one £7/10/-, and another bound over. Other charges are being heard. ■ ' ■' ■ HOSTILE CROWD OUTSIDE. AUCKLAND, February ,11. •' While the story of yesterday’s riot near the Chief Post Office was being tbld to Mr W. H. Woodward, B.M.', this morning,, a 'fair-sized crowd of' unemployed surged round the )P.olicO Cpurfc, A posse of police, four of them mounted, was needed to keep Ah© crowd in order. Seven men pud one woman w e r° charged on various counts, mostly with inciting’ to lawlessness, and as evidence was being heard, there was frequent booing from the crowd' outside the Court. A large number of people sat omthe slopes of Albert Park,.and many; contributed to the general demonstration. . -

Two other men have been arrested in connection with yesterday Is riot, mak r ing ten in all. >., • .The first case heard was against Alfred . Fowler, aged 59, ■ who entered the dock to answer charges of obstructing a constable, behaving in a disorderly manner, and inciting and. encouraging lawlessness and disorder in a public place. He pleaded hot guilty to all the counts, . ; Detective-Sergeant Kelly gave a long description of .yesterday’s fracas., “It is unfortunate that the unemployed are taking up this 'attitude of lawlessness,” continued Mr Kelly, “because what follows such things as were seen yesterday is nothing short of disastrous. In the case of Fowler, his conduct was largely responsible for the excitement and the state of the crowd.” ‘ “Some of them were armed with bricks and bobs, * said Constable Ganes. “When Fowler was arrested y ' the mob tried to free him, and we had to fight our way out ns best we oopld, I hnd no baton, and as far ns I know the old man was not Btruck with a baton.”

“I was commanding officer, of the /.procession,” said Patrick Quill, ,op -. out-of-work engineer, who was arrested ;thiis morning and who gave evidence \ far the defence. “I took the procession y-inT.most to the. front of the Post Office /'lfl military formation, then .1 -dismissthem. When a sergeant drew his baton the police rushed us; . In. my opinion, the intention of the police was to incite the men. The whole police force charged.” Quill said 60 per cent, of the unemployed were ex-service men. Mr Kelly: And what about the Labour Defence Corps? . Quill: That body is to protect the .workers from the attacks of thugs.

Mr Kelly { How long have you been in this country P— ; two years, Are you a member of the Communist Party P—Na; nor do I attend •[their meetings. " , For obstructing the police Fowler ■was fined £2. The 1 Magistrate said he considered him irresponsible. He did not incite the mob maliciously, but lost his head. After evidence had been heard against William John Dalgliesh, aged 22, he was convicted, sentence being deferred.

Percy Wilshere, aged 30, was also convicted of inciting and obstructing [the police, sentence being deferred. Charges of throwing stones to the danger of persons, of inciting and encouraging lawlessness, and of behaving in a disorderly manner, were brought against George Johnstone, aged 21. He pleaded guilty to throw, ing a stone. “You have made a clean breast of this and you have expressed regret. There is that much in your favour,” said the magistrate. Johnstone was convicted and sentence was deferred. Ernest Maltthew Roiall, aged 22, was also convicted on charges of inciting to lawlessness and behaving in a disorderly manner. He will be sentenced with the rest.