RACKETEERING

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1932, Page 3

RACKETEERING

SYDNEY AND ITS GANGSTERS.

CHICAGO METHODS INTRODUCED

SYDNEY, May 25,.;,

Already Sydney Iras its “gangsters” who try in their own small way m , emulate the doughty deeds of A 1 Capone and the “big shots ’ of Chicago and New YorkT There is the same callous disregard of the rights of property and the value of human li.e, the same misguided loyalty to leaders and comrades, and the same impenetrable silence regarding both friends and iocs when any member of these rinistei fraternities comes into contact with hated police. By this time are fairly well accustomed ,to free shooting and razor slashing) and other minor, atrocities in certain quarters of the city. . . -•agb. And now it seems that profiting by American exampile l ' are •’ building up a system of “rackfetferiring.” The process has the great mgi-jt’;'of simplicity. A member of goes to shopkeepers or hawkers and dgipunds tribute for the right to selk.Ar trade. If the innocent victim hesitates,, he is threatened; if lie proves obdurate he is “beaten up” and his shop~*is plundered or his wares are scattered broadcast over the streets. These methods have secured the establishment of highly profitable monopolies in the great American cities, where almost every sort of business pays tribute, directly or indirectly to the “racketeer.”

Well, the other day a number of men went to a shop in Surrey Hills and demanded money. The owner refused and he was promptly “knocked out” by the gang who then proceeded to*deal with his “stock in trade.” The police were informed, but all they can say so -hr is that they know that this sort of thing is going on.

Wlint with the garigs. and racketeering, and the various imitations of the Oamorra and other secret societies that have taken root in Sydney of late, this city is growing every day more like the Chicago that A 1 Capone governed before they locked him up.. Hapnilv. at least a million of Sydney’s inhabitants know nothing at all about these things.

Crimes And The Crowd

One reason that the criminal classes have enjoyed so large, a measure of immunity in Sydney is that they seem tc have infected a very large proportion of the masses—even the decent and honest workers—with their own detestation 0 f the police. A considerable percentage of the wage-earning class in Australia appear to regard a policeman as their mutual enemy. It is a curious and interesting fact that the Communists, who are in a- small minority here, are never tired of denouncing the police as “bloodhounds,” and “slaves of the bourgeoisie,” hut when public feeling turns strongly them — as ivheii a ciuisade ' was worked up against Communism a few months ago in the country districts and its emissaries were “ridden on a rail” or pushed into the river—they appeal to the, police most pathetically for aid.

But the average crowd in Sydney does not, generally speaking, feel impelled to assist the poliec in maintaining order or enforcing the law. There was a striking illustration of this prejudice the other day in Mncqnarv Place when a constable tried to arrest, a man suspected o' 1 a crime, and found that lie was getting the worst of tflw struggle. A large crowd looked on quite unmoved, and the suspect would have escaped if a Japanese, about half the size of the average Australian, had not plunged into the fray. A judicious application of a “jiu-jitsu” grip brought the offender to reason and the constable marched him off in triumph. The little “Jap” was thanked afterwards by the Force for his help, hut it is surely an unhealthy and disquiet ing feature of civic li o here that a large number of able-bodied Australians can look on unmoved such a struggle, while the duty of lending Lav and Order a helping hand is left to s diminutive Oriental.