LIKE ARCOS RAID

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 1 August 1929, Page 7

LIKE ARCOS RAID

EXTREMISTS’ ARREST I DRAMATIC POLICE COUP ON j STRIKE LEADERS i 1 SEQUEL TO MASS PICKETING SYDNEY, 25th July. Reminiscent of the famous Arcos raid in ] jondon was the sudden descent on the Trades Hall in Sydney .this week of a posse of detectives' under the leadership of Inspector Mackay, C.I.D. chief, and the arrest of seven of the prominent leaders in tho present industrial turmoil I in New South Wales. The raid followed on the. heels of a remarkable and sinister mass-picketing episode near the George Hudson timber yards at Glebe last Friday. Hudson’s is. perhaps the “key" yard in the industry. The strike, leaders believe that if they can get the volunteers employed at that yard to join them in tho strike the day will he won for the timber strikers. Consequently, they have paid particular attention to that vicinity all the time, and the yard lias .boon effectively picketed from the outset of the trouble. Having exploited all other methods without success, they decided on a massp’icketing display last Friday, and, when the knock-off whistles blew, the asseni-Ucdtstrikps-arid their wives and families, plus the hundreds of curious onlookers, must have numbered many thousands. They wore packed in the 1 streets outside tho yards, arid covered all [ the vantage points nearby. j / POLICE PREVENT A RIOT I There were, fortunately, some hundreds of police present, too, under the direct supervision of the new CommissionerMr W. H. Childs. As the volunteers left the yard and

started to walk through the lanes of jeering strikers towards the tramcars, there were catcalls and shouts of “scab," and many other epithets. Moro serious, a rain of stones and other missiles came over the heads of the foremost strikers, and one stone missed the head of the Colic Commissioner by inches only. Ono of the escorting constables was struck on tire shoulder, and for a time it. appeared that there would bo a. general riot. Police kept order, however, and finally arrested four of the men claimed to be concerned in the would-be rioting, Incidentally, it was the first and only effort at mass picketing. CAR LOADS OF DETECTIVES The subsequent action by the polico against the leaders of tho malcontents was as unexpected as it was complete. On Monday afternoon several car-loads of detectives, armed with necessary warrants and other papers, descended on tho Trades Hall and roped in seven of the leaders before any one could communicate with tho other. Those arrested were: J. S. (“Jock") Garden, secretary of the Labour Council and Timber Workers’ ■' Disputes Committee; Charles Reeves, ex-meriibcr of the 1.W.W., and member of the Timber Disputes Committee,; William Terry, member of tnc Timber Disputes Committee and Timber Workers’ Union; E. W. Patou, of the Sydney Communist party; M. P. Ryan, member of the Timber Disputes Committee and of the Storemen and Packers’ Union; J. Ciilbert, M.L.C., secretary of the Timber Workers’ Union; and J. Kavanugh, organiser of tho Labour Council and chairman of the strike committee. When tho polico arrived they interrupted a meeting of tho Timbdr Strike Disputes Committee, and no ono in tho Trades Hall realised the import of tho visit until the men wore, being taken downstairs. They strolled uo George street in company with the* detectives, and were charged with conspiracy to prevent persons employed in the timber trade from exercising thoir lawful trade or occupation, and to riotously assemble and assault the workmen employed by George Hudson. After the charges had been laid and

the men released on bail —£150 each—they were taken back to the Thades Hail, where police searched tho offices ul the Labour Council, Timber Workers Union, and Transport Workers’ Union, and seized quantities of papers bearing on the timber strike. The homes of the men under arrest were also raided, and further papers were seized by the police. When the men appeared before Hie Central Court on Tuesday morning, Llm Court was crowded, and hundreds lined the approaches. There was, however, no demonstration. Most of the men were represented* by counsel, who protested against what they termed tho absurdity of the circumstances of the, raid. “There was no need to descend on these men in such a theatrical manner, their advocate contended. “It, would have been necessary only to leave a message that they were wanted at police headquarters for them ail to have attended immediately—so much respect had they for the law.” He applied for bail to be reduced, on tho police to - ipicsf for a. remand to 6tli Augusf, and the magistrate reduced it lo £BO each.