ANGRY TOWN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 73, 17 November 1931, Page 2

ANGRY TOWN

MILDURA CITIZENS DEAL „ DRAST^CALLY WITH REDS. DUMPED IN RIVER. Mildnra's method of treating Red ! wreckers to some of the violence that j they reaehed, and thrashing them with the weapons of the basher gang, | has proved effective, says the Sydney Sun. Half of the 45 Communists who were dumped in a backwater of the Murray on Sunday by enraged citizens have already left town. Two more doubtless will clear out as soon as they can — they are still in hospital. Threats have been made that the Reds will enlist gangs from Broken Hill and elsewhere and hold another meeting next Sunday, but if the threats are carried out there will Ixe more dumpings in the Murray. Mildura has had enough of their doctrine of violence and disorder, and next time, will not be caught unawares and unarmed. Batons will be met with batons, irate citizens say. Trace Chain Weapon. Sunday' s incidents only went to show that decent Australian workers want no dealings with Communism! About 100(1 workers attended the , meefing, which was held over the ' bridge on the New South Wales side. | About 30. lpcal Reds and 15 who i arrived by lorry from Broken Hill, i were present. j The meeting' proeeeded quietly until a member of the audienee, known i for h's anti-Communist attitude, in- ■ terjected. He was struck to the j ground by an iron trace chain, sud- ! denly produced by one of the bashers. I Nine in Hospital. j Citizens at the meeting saw red — • i though not the brand the speakers i advoeated — the chain was snatched ; from the hand of the man who j struck the cowardly blow, and he was : thrashed unmercifully. i Batons loaded with lead, hammer, ; axe, and pick handles, suddenly produced by the wreckers, were seized, and the bashers were beaten with their : own weapons, and then picked up i bod'ly and dumped into the water. | Nine men, including seven of the ; Communists were treated in hospital for cuts and bruises. Two of the Broken Hill contingent — a man named Jones, who has a broken jaw and another named CreI main, with head injuries— are still ! in hospital. MTdura workers are determined that if there is any more talk of "red" violence, the Communists will fare even worse than on Sunday. But j it is generally believed that the ■ wreckers have had enough.