POLICE CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1932, Page 5

POLICE CHARGE

INQUIRY SOUGHT

RECENT RIOT IN WELLINGTON.

(By Telegraph- Per Press Association :

WELLINGTON, May 13.

An inquiry by a judicial body into the clash between the police and Lie unemployed in Upper!Cuba. Street on -Wednesday ,o with a ' vi&wS to .ascertaining whether the police acted rashly, a.d with unwarranted severity, was sought by a deputation on behalf ot the ilseliqf Work Strikers, which waited on tile Minister of Justice, Mr Cobbe, to-day.

Assertions were made that there had been no call for such harsh action as was taken without some warning having been given, and the Minister was asked to transfer Inspector J. Lander to another part of the Dominion.

Mr Cobbe snicl lie “would not dream” o" transferring Inspector Lander. He added that before such a step cculd be takeii. a very thorough inquiry would have to be made. Whereas the members of the deputation declared that the police had charged the crowd hep o-p missiles were thrown, noth the Minister and Mr Woh tin anti, Commissioner of Bo!ice, who was present, said that there was clear evidence that the police were stoned before they were foroqd to resort to direct action. My Cobh promised to investigate the swoi’jn statements of the eye witnesses produced by the deputation, which included those of Wellington Labour Members of Parliament, strikers, and Mr A. Parlane, jv-bresenting the Drivers’ Union; Mr W. T. Young (President) and Mr F. C. Cornwell (Secretary) of the Trades and Labour Council ; and Mr A. Black, representing the Amalgamated Engineers. »

MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR,

ORDER AGAIN RESTORED,

WELLINGTON, May 13

The Policy .Commission said this, morning that the indications are that things are returning to normal. He said a very satisfactory response was received to an appeal for more special police from a very excellent type of citizen.

The following telegram lias h en received by the Mayor from Lord Bledisloe: “I desire to express to you, as Mayor, and to tile city, my sympathy in your present distresses. I fervently hope that reasonable counsels will net prevail, and that the Capital City’s traditional high reputation ’’or observance of law and order will be speed»feiPYWtnblisHo<L.”., -a

In reply, the Mayor, Mr Hislop, says: “f am pleased to siiy that cfdbr has been .rapidly restored, and that, with the wiser counsels now prevailing, our troubles are speedily diminishing,”

DECISION RESERVED

SEQUEL TO RECENT RIOT

WELLINGTON, May 13.

In the Magistrate’s Court th’s afternoon, Charles Henry Hart was‘charged with being found armed with an offen--•jive weapon with felonious intent, and with breaking a window. Sub-Inspector Ward said that abon 1 6 p.m. on Tuesday a man walking along ■La mb ton Quay saw the accused brea ! a window in Lindsay's boot shop with a lid of a dustbin. The man notifie ’ the police, and in the meantime, the accused ran up Lambton Quay. About half an hour later, the accused was seen by the Commissioner of Po’icc and Senior-Sergeant H. .Scott walking along Cuba Street with his hand in hit pocket, as if concealing soinebniug. At first he refused to disclose what he had, and a constable was called, and he found an iron bolt in accused’s pocket. Accused refused to give any reason for having the bolt. On th following morning, he was picked out in an identification parade. Senior-Sergeant Scott said tna-t the accused maintained he had t«e *i.*c at work. All kinds of missiles, including iron bolts had been u-ed in the disturbance. The value of the window was about £lO. Evidence of identification was given others were running along well ahead by an eye-witness of the window breaking, who said that the accused and of the main crowd;

Counsel for the defence pointed out the possibility of a mistake in identification. The accused was in partnership with another man as a contractor, and the bolt was connected with his >vork. He' was not within a mile of Lambton Quay where the disturbance occurred. There, would be ample evidence: td that .effect, Hart (called a numb'eV'pf witnesses, who said he was not anywhere near the seeue when the window-smashing started.

OTHER CHARGESWELLINGTON, May 13. At the mi-el hearing,. Felix IJlaney, a seaman, who came out of a hotel at 5.30 on the evening of -the disorders, •was charged dial lie called out: “Go to running eon-

it you stiMi'N. Ho (loiiiiod any association with tlu* rlomonstration.

A co.iv': tion was entered against Binary. H t . was remanded for sen-

tence. William l l .ally, a carpenter, aged 38, it was said, had booed at some passing specials. He was taken in charge. Decision was reserved in h : s case. THEFT CHARGES. Frederick Gordon Thomas was charged with stealing watches, and Henry

Clarence Beruey with stealing jewellery. Both of their cases were remanded till May 18th. William George Lovatt was remanded till May 20. on a charge ’of mischief. MORE CASES a^.tottt*VKD. The Magistrate. Mr Page, said he would like to take time to con'-ider the evidence in the charge against Leslie George Boyd, of wilfully obstructing the police. William George Lovatt, a seaman, \n>.« remanded until May 20th on two eh naros of committing m’-schief by wilfully damaging two windows valued at £ls and '£lo respectively.