MELEE IN POST OFFICE SQUARE.

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

MELEE IN POST OFFICE SQUARE.

At about 5.45 p.m. on Thursday about one hundred mounted police, including special constables, rode through Post Office Square. There were fully 3000 people in the vicinity at the time, and the nqouuted men were hooted by the strike section. Then, very suddenly, a party in the crowd began a fusillade of stoues on the special men. By this time the mounted force had arrived at a point opposite Messrs E. W. Mills and Co.’s premises, tn Jervous Quay. COMMAND TO CHARGE. A command tang out, and the mounted force turned suddenly, and charged the crowd at a gallop. This move was not contemplated, and, immediately, there was a scatter iu all directions. It looked

at the time as if a certain section of the inoffensive crowd would be hemmed in, but, fortunately, this did not happen. The crowd was wild with excitement, and explosive detonators were much in evidence. Report after report rang out. Horses reared, aud batons were freely used. Suddenly two men were seen to fall, and naturally, they were at once surrounded by a crowd. The Harbour Board officials were quickly on the . scene with stretchers, but they were not needed. The injured men were taken into E. Shed, on the Queen’s Wharf, aud first aid was rendered by Harbour Board officials.

Meanwhile the mounted men kept galloping on, still followed by the agents of the strike. Several of the special constables had very narrow es^' n ' c °f being pulled out ol the saddle. One man had a rather wonderful recovery. He was surrounded by a yelling mob, and his horse got out of hand. It pitched its rider on to its neck, and the rider seemed to be in danger of being left at the mercy of the mob. He happened to be a good horseman, however, and, in a second regained his saddle and galloped off. One of the police party who was thrown out of the saddle by his falling before the charge was pursued. As he fled, a stone struck him on tne back or the head aud almost simultaneously a bar of iron hit him in the back and knocked him over. The charge of his party gave him the necessary opportunity, of evading his pursuers, aud no doubt saved him from some serious injury. The trouble violent as it was, only lasted about five minutes, and as the mounted men rode towards Waterloo Quay a few riderless horses were observed.

LOCAL WATKRSIDER3 OUT

The local Waterside Workers Union has given notice that tbe members will go out on strike in sympathy with the Wellington men to-night. The Kairaki, which arrived this morning, is being discharged but no other vessels will be worked.

To-day is the eleventh day of the strike.

Yesterday everything was quiet, Tbe House of Representatives adjourned last night till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Mr Webb was the only objector. Cost of living is going up throughout the Dominion aud the strike is creating enforced idleness in a number of industries.

The Wellington tram men are sympathetic with the strikers aud have decided not to allow free labourers on the cars.

The police authorities positively stale that no special or ordinary constable fired a revolver in the recent melee.

Colonel Heard, acting • commandant ol the loices, slates that the military has not been called upon to serve in the present disturbance and will only be used as a last resort.

The public are warned not to assemble along the waterfront in case of a disturbance.

A striker was arrested yesterday at Wellington for using insulting language. ' There is a split among the seamen and a section of them refuse to obey the mandate of Mr Young. Shortage of coal is seriously hampering a number ot industries throughout the Dominion and causing slackness of work. .Special mounted constables Irorn the country districts are arriving in Wellington, They are men of good physique and are well mounted. The Federation of Labour has taken over the strike. The Dunedin Waterside Workers are out.

Shipping is practically at a standstill in Auckland. One thousand five hundred special constables have already been enrolled iu Wellington. There is no change iu affairs at Auckland.

Shipping at all ports is practically paralysed.