PITCHED BATTLE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1932, Page 6

PITCHED BATTLE

POLICE VERSUS UNEMPLOYED. HUNDRED INJURED IN. FRACAS. (Australian Press Association) - ;i. BRISBANE, July 17. A hundred men were injured, many seriously, in a pitched battle. between the police, aided by citizens, and nomadic unemployed led by Commun--ists on the Cairns show grounds. The unemployed were armed with knives, stones and nullas pierced with nails, and other weapons., • r What were thought to be bombs, were thrown at the police and citizens, but the missiles failed to explode The; Cairns ambulance took seventeen of .the most seriously injured, r cbirioat* ants to the hospital, some-;|eing :inta. serious condition. , ■ A" >Av ■ Negotiations had been conducted for two months, to get, campers to leave the grounds to' enable; to be. made for the annual. show. They- refused offers of temporary accommodation until after .the show when they coiuld return- to the buildings, and ignored the ultimatum to get out byyesterday. The first clash occurred when the police vyho tried to separate two meil of opposing sides, were attacked and three were felled. The police then puj> sued the attackers, aided by the townspeople and the battle began. The fighting was most and weight’ of numbers caused the. unemployed eventually to flee into the bush chased by the crowd wedding batons and. poles.: • . ... . Four .police were.. admitted to. tae. hospital, while. several of the unemployed suffered broken- arms.