DISORDER IN MELBOURNE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1733, 22 September 1917, Page 1

DISORDER IN MELBOURNE.

r ARREST OF MISS PANKHURST.

STRUGGLE WITH THE POLICE

The disorders in the Melbourne streets in the vicinity of the Federal Parliament House, ending in the arrest of Miss Adela Pankhurst and her subsequent sentence to a term of nine months’ imprisonment, were in connection with a demonstration by the Women’s Peace Army on August 21st. An impromptu procession was held through the principal streets of the city, and, as the result of police action when the processionists returned to the vicinity of Federal Parliament House, many exciting scenes were witnessed. Several hundreds of women took an active part in the demonstration, and they were supported by a number of men, who sang “The Red Flag.” Miss Adela Pankhurst was again conspicuous. Her arrest precipitated a most disorderly scene, in which females attacked police officials with hands and umbrellas, while men hurled epithets and adopted a menacing attitude. Batons and handcuffs wore drawn by several policemen, who formed a cordon to prevent the crowd following captors and captives down Little Bourke Street to the police station, but none were used. In addition to Miss Pankhurst a Mrs Wallace and three men wore arrested.

The affair originated in an announcement that the Women’s Peace Army would, hold a meeting of protest against the high cost of living. A large crowd gathered, and, after being addressed by several speakers, moved upon the Federal Parliament House.

In accordance with a proclamation issued by the Prime Minister that no congregation of people was permissible in front of or in the vicinity of Parliament House, a number of policemen were posted there, and they guarded the main approaches to the House. No attempt was made by the crowd to gain admission. They merely surged past in disorderly procession, and contented themselves with hooting the police and those whom they wore guarding. With Miss Pankhurst at the head, the processionists turned into Bourke Street and marched down to Swanston Street. A curious crowd in the city followed the procession along Swanston Street to the Town Hall, and the douse gathering ,interrupted tram and other vehicle traffic. Passing the Town Hall numbers of women cried: “Wo want food and fair play,” and in front of the Athenaeum Hall, where volunteers arc being enrolled to take the place of the strikers, hoots were given.

Singing' “The Red Flag,” in which }ho voices of many robust, hoalthylooking, and apparently, eligible young men were prominent, the demonstrators proceeded up Collins Street, and returned to Parliament House. As they approached the leaders inclined towards the steps, and were peremptorily ordered to move along. A dense crowd gathered on the footpath and the roadway, and in the disorder that ensued, a sergeant and a couple of constables caught hold of Miss Pankhurst. Several of her friends, urged by the crowd to refuse to allow her to be taken, fought frantically, clinging to their idol, and endeavouring to beat off the assailants. Ultimately the police achieved their object, and Miss Pankhurst was marched along towards Little Bourke Street. Roused to fury by this development, several women anted in a most violent manner, and umbrellas and fists wore used against the police. The women shouted frantically, appealing to their men-folk to liberate Miss Pankhurst, but, although there were many threats, the effort was not attempted. The struggling crowd was checked at the entrance to Little Bourke Street, where about fifteen constables, some with batons drawn, were stationed. Four other arrests followed, Several policemen who endeavoured to quieten the more unruly spirits were heckled and struck, but they acted with remarkable restraint in the circumstances. When the disturbance had subsided, two mounted constables, with the aid o£ the foot police, dispersed the crowd,