THE STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1166, 1 November 1913, Page 3

THE STRIKE.

ABE QUIET YESTERDAY,

Wellington, 1 Oct. 31

Matters are comparatively quiet on the waterfront this morning. The union pickets still veto any goods or horses going on the wharves for shipment.

No mounted police are parading. The strikers are standing about the square in groups, quite orderly. Additional special constables have been sworn in.

The Marere, from Loudon, via Auckland, arrived and anchored in the harbour.

THURSDAY’S DISTURBANCES.

Disgraceful proceedings took place in Eambton Quay and the Post Office Square just p.m. (says the Dominion). The strikers opened with violent speeches, and, presently, there followed a wild rush towards Waterloo Quay. In this rush two constables were injured. Several special men were cornered in the doorway of Whitcombe aud Tombs’ shop, but three at least walked quietly through the crowd, and still carrying their batons, made an exit through Grey Street. By this time, however, the incident at Whitcombe and Tombs’ had developed into a -Serious riot. The street was densely packed, the traffic was blocked, and the windows and balconies in the vicinity were studded with onlookers. Those of the special constables who made their way into the shop, which was now the strikers’ objective, soon had three members of the permanent force to assist them. Another man, however, was not fortunate enough to get inside the door, and he was quickly divested of his hat, his badge, and his baton. He broke free, however, made off along the Quay pursued by half-a-dozen of the strike party, aud managed to gain security in a building near Panama Street. A threatening mob was collecting outside the building, when four mounted constables put in an appearance from Panama Street, and quickly dispersed this section of the rioters. A storm of hooting greeted the mounted men, and from another quarter came cheers.

Meanwhile the situation outside the warehouse of Messrs Whit combe and Tombs was assuming an uglier aspect as each minute advanced. Three constables on foot were endeavouring to keep iback the howling mob of the strikers. It seemed useless, but the police stuck to their posts resolutely, and it was only when gentler methods proved inadequate that batons were drawn. Many of the strikers were armed with sticks and captured batons, and as the three men in blue laid about them, the strikers relied vigorously. The four mounted men, who were approaching from Grey Street, did not appear to realise that their comrades on foot were in such a plight. By sheer force of numbers, the police on foot were being overpowered and still the four mounted men had not forced a passage to their assistance.

Beaten back with the batons, the strikers paused only for a second before surging onward again, but a pointed revolver held them in awe now. They were further checked by the sight of firearms iu the possession of members of the staff in Whitcombe and Tombs. It appears that several revolvers are kept in the firm's safe, and while some members of the staff rushed upstairs, others prepared to receive the rioters with revolvers and ebony rulers. It was due to their action that the riot had not taken a more serious turn by the time the mounted men got through the crowd to the assistance of their comrades.

As it was, one of the policemen on foot received injuries, these including a serious gash on the neck. The shop windows were smashed in places, and on the strikers’ side some heads suffered. As the four mounted constables came on there were further hoots and some of those in the crowd hurled crackers at their horses. One of the horsemen, however, charged through the crowd and quickly forced a right-of-way. The injured policeman was then rescued and assisted away, while the crowd vented its wrath by destroying helmets, which had been purloined, and cheering derisively as the remnants were tossed high into the air.