POLICE V. UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1931, Page 3

POLICE V. UNEMPLOYED

CLASH AT WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph—Per Brass Association) WELLINGTON, April 23. For the first time during the present industrial situation in Wellington, the forces of law and order and those representative of the advocates of direct action dashed to-dav, when a number of Communists ntt:mpted to force their way into the Parliamentary grounds. A .strong body of police were present, and they held the demonstrators in check. Throe arrests were made.

A procession of between 150 and 200 of tlie unemployed, under the banner of the Communist Party, left Vivian Street shortly alter 10.30 this moiling for the Parliament Buildings, where they intended to interview tlie Minister of Labour. The procession" through the streets was an orderly one, and it was not until the gates to the Parliamentary Grounds were readied that there was any indication of trouble. There the police, profiting from experience, were' strongly in evidence. At- iio time did the situation become out of band. The entire procession wanted to enter the ground, but permission to do so was refused.

Thereupon the gates were rushed. This was a signal for the free use oT fists, in which the police came out easily the better. It was not long lierore the first rush was stemmed.

In the meantime, however, a large number of the demonstrators got, over the low walls, and they made their way into the grounds, there besetting the police from the rear. These intruders were summarily dealt with. The grounds were cleared. No batons were use i by the police, whose hands pr.ived .more than a match for one deinonsti o.tors. Stones and other onjeets we! a thrown by members of the procession, which included several women, but their effort was more or less halfhearted.

One mm, it is stated, made his way unohserv d through the crowd, and with a k life damaged two tiies of the police van, which had been brought to the seen * in order to transfer arrested men to the police station. In spite of the fact that the police quickly assumed the upper hand against the crowd that rushed the gates, it was some time before order was restored.

During the scuffle a me sage had been sent to the House of Representatives to Mr P. Fraser M.P., who arrived on the scene, and as the result of negotiations, a deputation of six, including women, was admitted to the grounds and proceeded to interview the Minister of Labour. The crowd waited form, considerable time for the members r.if the deputation to return am! then gradually dispersed. The police, however, continued to keep a watchful eve on the situation.