SPECIALS ROUTED IN AUCKLAND.

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 18, 20 November 1913, Page 1

SPECIALS ROUTED IN AUCKLAND.

THE BRAVOS’ BUBBLE BURSTER.

The “ specials ” in Auckland first sneaked in by night and lined up across the foot of Queen Street. They made a brilliant charge and attack on the Waterside Workers’ Union offices when no one was there. Since then they have been gradually sneaking a bit further up the street each day until, mistaking the Solidarity and quietness of the strikers for fear, they have grown more and more insolent. They merely required one good lesson to check their gradually assumed bravado —as was well illustrated in Hobson Street to-day (Wednesday). For over a week now they have been doing irritation stunts, the favourite method being to ride in squads past the Trades Hall, making a display of batons. They have always taken care to come w T hen the crowd was small, how-

ever.

To-day (Wednesday) a large squad of mounted specials rode up and down Hobson Street, evidently with the intention of starting something to provide an excuse for an attack on the Trades Hall. The few strikers talking in small groups took no notice of the specials, so the latter commenced to ride closer and closer, and then commenced to make short rushes. These tactics were sustained for some short time, most of the strikers in the vicinity being called into the hall to an important meeting. The Cossacks commenced to attack individuals indiscriminately, and ride on the footpaths again. They succeeded in hustling a handful of practically unarmed men on to the corner of Cook Street. Thinking they had a “ soft thing ” they commenced to baton the men, whilst other specials struck at pedestrians walking across the street. The specials, however, met with a sudden check at the hands of a small group of strikers, who, seizing pick handles, etc., from an implement store, advanced and defied the mounted specials to “ come onU Being faced, for about the first time this week, by a few determined men with something in their hands, the Cossacks backed down and away, and have kept at a very respectful distance ever since. Duxi? g the hustling tactics the brave specials rushed a woman, rode another one down, and hit a unionist, who was crossing the street, a Mow on the arm. Children in the vicinit e treated like the rest of the crowd. A, tiiiU more of firmness by the strikers in maintain; g Law and Order would make the streets a : die better for the General Public.