THE SYDNEY SATURNALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 38

THE SYDNEY SATURNALIA.

THE' POLICE VERSION.— A DENIAI The disclosures made in the 'Sydne; Morning Her-ald regarding the conduct o larrikins in the city on New Tear's Ev were. ladd. before the Inspector-general o Police by the Minister of Justice, wbi asked for an official report on the matter In consequence of this request, M: Garvin called upon his subordinate officer; for -their versions 'of the behaviour of th< people on New Tear's E.ve: Speaking ci • the matter, the- Inspector-general' said thai the reports submitted by Superintendent! Sherwood and* Mitchell, Inspectors Roche and" M'Vane, and Sub -inspectors Spencc and Mathews, show 'that there was- lifctk foundation for the sensational reports published All the officers contend thai although the crowd' was large ' and noisy; very little was/dome Inafr could be taken exception to by the'' police considering th« occasion. "Of course," said Mr Garvin, " th« young fellows and girls were not exactly behaving themselves as we would expeci them oil an ordinary night, but on New Tear's Eve we must allow a little latitude. It would be impossible to strictly enforce the law with- regard to riotous behaviour. In fact, I don't think the people would tolerate us preventing them einging and blowing trumpets and whistles. Even if we "did. want to stop them, we could, not with the force at our disposal .^ I have a thousand men in* the' city and suburbs, and these have to do the best they can to prevent, any serious disturbances. This New Tear's Eve business had my personal attention for weeks past, and I had several .conferences with my officers' on the matter. Everything- was- discussed at length, and finally we decided on a schema which worked highly satisfactorily. -In past years there have been many complaints with regard to wilful damage of property, but this year nothing of) tMat nature has* been reported. " I have had reports from all my officers, and many of the ncsn-commissioned officers and men^ and all o§ them state that, considering the occasion, the crowd was o£ the) most orderly that have gathered in the oity. There- were- but few arrests, and m> no ease was a. prisoner rescued from the police,, as reported;. To_6ljow what Superintendent Mitchell, . who is in charge of the Bsain - portion of the city, thought of the behaviour of the revellers, 'I might mention that he- had a reserve- of 20 constables at the Central. Police Station ready for emergency, and throughout the whole night he only draw on. four men. These he took to strengiien. his. force near the Post Office, ' ■ , " With' regard- to the indecent assaults, none have been xeported to the police. The constables on duty at the Post Office say" that none were brought under their notice. One officer reporter that he saw a large number oi girls kissed by young. Fellows, who weTe. evidently strangers ba Lhem. but in each case the girls brought the display of affection on themselves by tickling the men on the face and neck, with little bunches of feathers on the- end of sticks. Several of the girk were- ordered jut of tfie -Post Office collenade by the ooliee for jostling- man «nd otherwise bera,v4ng in- a free manner. " There's one thing, 'however," coa- J ;ihue<f Mr Garvin. ''That will have to be ; jut a stop to, and that iff those- explosive itioks. They are dangerous toys, and in i The hands of an unruly man would be a. very effective weapon. This year I shall try to feet legislation to prevent their use. The police iiOQls a nißnwr of ttem a-Tra.y from, their ownecs, who will be prosecuted in. due course. '* THE HERALD'S REPLY. The editor of the Herald replies to Mr Garvin's statement as follows : — ■" The statements in the Herald as to acts of in- , decency committed in the public streets on New Tear's Eve represent the facts, despite the contradiction by the police. The offences -were far more grave than it is possible to report. Members of the Herald staff were eye-witnesses of some of the acts referred to Besides members- of the Herald staff, we have the testimony of persons in whose truthfulness the public can place' reliance. J Furthermore, thecorrespondence received' by the Herald from reputable citizens is a complete confirmation of our report. Finally, we are privately assured by the police, who state they are in; peril," and' certainly are in fear of losing their position*, that the Herald report is -acouratet . The statement

I denied by Mr Garvin; that somo prisoners J were jostled awa-y from the police by an ; organised mob, is bassd absolutely upon j police< information. The fact that the oute break _of lawlessness and indecency •is a at reflection on the police administration is j r regrettable; but there is this mitigating cir- ■ m cumstance, that it was the first time in 'the Iv ¥ stor y °f Sydney that a. public fete degenerated into a saturnalia, and the ■<■= authorities could' therefore have no previous knowlt2dge of what was likely tooccur. The object of the Herald is nofc Q _ sensation ; we have no brief {or or against. >n s omei V 3 concerned; but we have to* report things as they are, and draw atten>d tlOn to terrible' public scandal, so that ' j a recurrence may be prevented."