SERIOUS RIOTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2655, 6 November 1923, Page 3

SERIOUS RIOTS.

RESULT FROM MELBOURNE POLICE STRIKE. BLUEJACKETS ANL SPECIALS POWERLESS. SHOPS'LOOTED BY GANGS OP ROUGHS. Melbourne, November 3. Dramatic developments followed the refusal of the day police to commence their duties. Police were hurriedly conveyed from country centres but on arrival at headquarters they joined the strikers and were discharged. Melbourne, November 4. Unparalleled * scenes, resulting from the police strike, were witnessed on Bourke and Swanston Sts., the loyalist police being savagely attacked by crowds, who smashed shop windows and looted the/ premises. A small party of Bluejackets made an unsuccessful effort to protect the shops, but were so severely handled that all of them were injured. A tram was pushed from the rails and the passengers thrown out and trampled on. The fire brigade then dashed through the crowd and scattered it but this measure was only temporarily effective, and the rioting continued, the trams being compelled to stop. Ifany plate glass windows were sjnashed. A man was pushed through one window and had his /throat terribly gashed. Fifty-seven casualties were treated in hospital as a result of the rioting. At one stage of the *- disorder, a corporal of the citizen forces appeared carrying a rifle. He was greeted with yells of rage, knocked down and the rifle taken from him. One hundred special constables were enrolled at the Town Hall, and with the aid of the .police who remained loyal, the rowdy element was routed. When it was reported ■ K to the Naval authorities that the ' sailors, had been injured, a was despatched from the destroyers, rushed to the scene in taxicabs and rescued their comrades. Thousands of pounds’ worth of goods were looted from the shops, the thieves carrying the proceeds of their robberies openly through the streets. The rioting continued till after 9 o’clock, the crowd getting more and more out of hand. Finally police ''and-specials fired a volley in the air. and after repeated charges ywith batons, drove the crowd before 'them. - _ As the ngiht wore on, the rioting became more and more unrestrained and looting increased, jewellers’ shops being the first to suffer. Cabinet, asked the managements of the various entertainments to call, for returned soldiers to stop the looting ' This was done, the men responding - freely. Later, the disorder became even more pronounced, mobs unrestrainedly looting and damaging property. They rushed the theatres, terrified audiences listening quaking to the sounds of revolver shots and breaking glass. So far one death has heen repbrted, a man being found in a dying condition in the street. Later in the evening, a crowd attacked Collins St., gangs of hooligans parading up and down with booty on their shoulders, which they Commenced to auction in the street, b.uyers being freely forthcoming.. By a late hour at night, the police had.?the position well in hand, the various gangs dispersing although not without-serious fighting. The Police Association carried a resolution urging the Police to return to duty immediately in the public interests and to submit their grievances to arbitration. Daring the height of the rioting, 62 people were greated in hospital m one hour. No estimate of the damage is possible, though it must-, anioiint to many thousands, in one shop alone £iJjt)oo worth of jewellery was lost. . ! -

THREE VIOLENT) HEATHS. ;* C iiOWIA TiIOJiO UUHIA' OUT OF hand. - Rioting continues. Tiie crowd is Ihorougiiiy out oi hand, tne loyal are powerless and the militia nas been called out. .During the week-end tnree violent deatlis occurred. A young man, uiudentiiied, was found in a park with bis bead battered. As two men were attempting to enter a wine cafe in tbe city an altercation occurred with the proprietor.. Two shots were bred, une of the intruders fell dead and y tne other was wounded. The pro-S-pnetor surrendered to the police but no charge was laid against him. ' I’ouowing a quarrel on a steamer, two seamen came to blo.ws. One named .banks was thrown to the decs, where the other strangled him. lie was captured by the ship’s olli- . cers at the revolver point.