BRITISH UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1931, Page 5

BRITISH UNEMPLOYED

POLICE FIGHT CROWDS. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, September 30. Swarming from Ilyde Park, sing,ing “The Red Flag,” and shouting “Down with the National Government!” Several thousand of the unemployed demonstrated in front of the House of Parliament. The unemployed broke the police cordon, and they attempted to enter the gates of the .House of Lords. Police reinforcements were hurried to the scene and they scatteied the crowd. The demonstrators tried to unhorse the mounted policemen, who used their batons freely.

Thu traffic in Parliament Square was brought to a standstill till the mounted police charged the crowd and cleaved the Square. The police arrested nine meri. Attempts to rescue the prisoners failed. A deputation was permitted to

hand a petition to the Labour members, after which the crowd marched up Whitehall. A wild scuffle took place, near the Cenotaph, the unemployed rushing a squad of policemen. DEMONSTRATIYE CROWD. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m) LONDON, September 30. Demonstrative crowds, bearing banners (which the police seized) gathered in Bow Street, where 13 were charged following last night’s unemployed disturbance. Mounted police drove back squads marching eight abreast, trampling some under foot. Irene Porteus, aged 21, was arres ed with a life preserver, with which she allegedly struck constables whom she declared had manhandled her. She was

remanded with 12 others on a charge of insulting behaviour, and obstructing and assaulting the police. Subsequently the unemployed marched to Hyde Park, escorted by the police, where they demonstrated, but were latexdispersed. W. J. Brown, a member of the House of Commons, presented to the Speaker a petition bearing half a million signatures protesting against a reduction of the dole. f