TRAM STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1932, Page 6

TRAM STRIKE

500 MAKE BATON CHARGE.

RIOTERS HEAVILY DISPERSED.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 6. Five hundred temporary police, who streamed out of the Tramway Board’s workshops like an army at the douwe, completely surprised, and Touted, a crowd of three hundred rioters, who, -armed! with iron bars and stones, attacked the Sumner tram, the first one out of the sheds at 6 a.m. to-day. Many of the tram windows were, smashed but the rioters offered little resistance to police, who, by procuring them sharply with batons, and using their feet on shins, and fists on facer,, drove them back along Fitzgerald Avenue and over the intersection of Ferry Road. The “specials” who wore war-time steel helmets did not draw their batons but ulsed fists amd feet when necessary. On© man, who made to strike at a constable with a steel bar was forestalled by a police baton which knocked him unconscious. He and eleven other men were arrested. A plug of gelignite sufficient to derail a tram, and placed on the line at the intersection of Fitzgerald Avenue and Ferry Road. It was hidden from view by a pile of dust which a policeman negligently kicked.

That saved the Sumner tram on its return, though some small pieces of gelignite, which still remained! on tlie line/caused an explosion of force. A tramwayman, who was cycling to work, was pulled to the ground, kicked in the ribs, and given the option of remaining there or going home. He was rescued by the police. The main clash between the police and rioters was carried out in the froety darkness of the early mornmg, and it was an eerie sight. The scream® of a group of women, who were well to the front of the hlack mass of humanity, was combined with the smashing of glass, and the hooting and cursing of men, and the sound of rushing feet, as the men pursued a tram along Fitzgerald 1 Avenue. A large crowd of men, who had been held up by the police at the corner of Fitzgerald Avenue and the Moorhousei Avenue extension, broke through to follow their companions in the wake of the tram. Behind them came the police, led by Inspector Cameron, whose loud command- to “draw batons” diverted the attention of the to this next turn of affairs. “Call out the specials” came the sharp command, and in a few seconds, an army of steel helmets dashed round the corner of the Board’s workshop® and rushed pell mell at the head of the hlack mass. There were curses and cries of surprise as the police and their voluntary assistants came .to grips with the, men, who were -sternly ordered to move back.- The order was accompanied by blows, kick® and 1 baton thrusts.

In cases where the retreat wqs too slow the affair was over in a few minutes o>f rapid action*, and a surprise rout was complete. The rioters, many of whom took to their heel's as .soon as they glimpsed the army of police, were rapidly forced back over the intersection of Ferry Road, where the crowd thinned (out. The men made a quick retreat in many directions and a considerable force, of police followed the remnant north along Fitzgerald Avenue. This remnant of the routed army met another detachment of rioters who came from tlie, opposite direction to find out what was afoot. Their turn about was precipitate an<T the last of the rioters disappeared with the first cold grey streaks of dawn. The situation continues quiet, and the trams are running everywhere as vesterday. • I

GELIGNITE ON TRAM RAILS

gar passes over stick

CHRISTCHURCH, May 6

The Board’s engineer, when shown a piece of gelignite, which was placed on the tram line at the intersection of Fitzgerald Avenue and Ferry Road, stated that the stick 1 was powerful enough to- have derailed a tram. Tlie explosive had been placed there during the hours of darkness, and was carefully hide!erf by a thick layer of dust. The first tram to pass over it failed to bring about an explosion. Several police, and about thirty temporary police, were stationed within a yard or two of the gelignite but no one noticed it until a constable happened to move the pile of dust with his foot. A stick, about three inches long, was unearthed and removed, but smaller pieces left made a loud report when the Sumner tram, on its return, passed over it.

16 MEN ARRESTED

CHARGE OF LAWLESSNESS.

By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May C.

In all, sixteen men were arrested as a result of the attack on the tram, and will appear in court this afternoon, most of them on charges of law-

lessness. Of the sixteen men arrested, only three are said to bo ©x-tra in way men.