EVICTION SCENES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1933, Page 8

EVICTION SCENES

DRAMATIC POLICE COUP

MELBOURNE UNEMPLOYED

Melbourne, Augsut 10

Remarkable scenes .were enacted in Melbourne on Tuesday when, as the result of a. dramatic coup, the polkfj evicted 95 unemployed single men from a terrace of eight double-storey brick residences at Eitesroy. The police and the men clashed later in. a lively scrimmage in which batons were used freely. The jnen were ultimately dispersed ,as they were marching to the city carrying their roughly-made stretchers and .their few belongings. Th© men took possession of the terrace .“bout a year ago and although they had been told at various times that they must leave they adopted a policy of “masterly inactivity.” They were surprised, therefore, when a big squad of police arrived ©n Tuesday morning and they quietly removed their belongings to the street. Their makeshift beds and the barest household -utensils completely . blocked one street for a distance of more than 150 yards

The men had styled themselves “The Unemployed Single Men’s Group of Melbourne,” and paid no rent. They had established themselves in the terrace on the community basis, and one of the roojns was known as the office. Most of the others were used l as bedrooms, and there were notices calling upon the occupants to keep the premises clean. Most,of, the members of the group were at qne time in tlje Government camp for ' unemployed single, men at Broadmeadows, add they, left the camp and occupied a . delicensed hotel at Coberg. From this they were also evicted. The men appeared to take Tuesday’s eviction quite calmly and in good humour until some of their leaders addressed them, and then there were signs of impending trouble.

RALLY EFFORT CIRCUMVENTED

A dole strike is in progress in parts of'Melbourne, and messenger? were sent in to attempt to rally the unemployed for a big meeting which was to have been held at the spot where the evictions had taken place. However, the police surrounded the quarter and prevented the approach of any who did njpt hgve business, within the area. The evicted men then set out on a march, to the city, the leaders saying that-the intention was to interview the Minister, of Sustenance. Several girt sympathisers, joined in and carried suitcases while-the men carried the beds and bedding. On some of the stretchers pans,,.clothing, and other articles were piled,high. With shouting and singing the strange procession reached a point about 200 yards from the Sustenance Department, near the State Parliament House, when about 14 policemen leaped from a passing tram.. A big party of police then arrivedin vans and the jirocession was ordered to stpp. The leading files dropped their stretchers, and at once every man begqp. to fling bags swags, bundles and kitchen gear on to the tram lines. Some of the men rallied the marchers ; to proceed, and immediately the police charged the head of/ the procession, swinging .their buttons freely.

RUSH TO CHURCHYARD

Then followed a scene of wild confusion. The evicted men and their sympathisers ran in all directions to the thud of battons on their skulls. A few | punches were exchanged, and then, charged the line, the police drove the demonstrators. back to the gates of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Somebody shouted, “All into the churchyard boys. We will be safe there.” No opportunity was given to the men to hold a meeting, however, and the • police soon cleared the churchyard. The men were gradually driven from the city proper, and. none of them returned to pick UP; his belongings. These .were scattered all, over ,the street, anu tram traffic was delayed, for some time. Finally a party, of police moved the | debris to the footpath. As the marchers made their retreat there were some lively encounters with the police,, who were jeered at and hooted by a section of the crowd. Mounted troopers aided in breaking up the crowd. Later the Leader of the Opposition interviewed the Minister and is was announced that the men would he suitably housed and their belongings collected for them. The men refused to return to the Broadmeadows camp, an u also objected to work for sustenance. They promised -they would consider going to work under a. forestry scheme.