LAW AND ORDER TO BE MAINTAINED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 199, 15 April 1932, Page 5

LAW AND ORDER TO BE MAINTAINED

("Post" Special Commissioner)

PREMIER'S STATEMENT MR. FORBES APPEALS TO CITIZENS TO RESIST DISORDER^ LABOUR BLAMES GOVERNMENT

WELLINGTON, this morning. A definite indicatipn that the Government would not tolerate such disturbances as had occurred in Auckland, and would insist pn the main- , tenance of law and prder by the unemployed was given by the Primp Minister, the Kt. Hop. G. W. Forbes, when making a statpment on the riot in thp House of Representatives early this morning. After outlining the defails pf the riot, the Government had agreed, MrForbes said, that despite all aggressive disturbanees these misg-uided men must realis;e that law and order will be maintainpd. Mr. H. E. Holland: And the people starve ? Mr. Forbes said he appealed to cjtizens to help the policp. Mr. P. Fraser: It is a direct result of the Government's policy. Sympathy for Unemployed The Prime Minister said that the Government had eyery sympathy with the unpmployed and it was dpjng everything that was humanly pQssible wifh the funds at its disposal to provide for those o,ut of work. The pos.ition was only made worse ]?y disturbanees pf this kind, where the premises of innpcent citizens had been broken into, and the destruction and trouble so caused would,, no dpubt. alienate sympathy, which had so fur been ab.undantly shown. Hp added a word of sympathy fpr the pplice whp had hpen injured in the performance of their duty. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr.

Government Responsible H. E. Holland, expressed regret that the Prime Minister had taken the opportunity to make an attack on a certain section of the community without having the full facts of the position in Auckland before him. "Everyb.ody will regret there has been any disturbance whatever in. Auckland," he said, "and will sympathise with those who have been injured, buf sqrely the Government will recognise that this is the inevitable result of its pplicy. It is np gpod the Prime Minister saying that force will be used and all that kind of thing. There is no escape from this kind pf thing, except by a complete reversal of the disastrous policy of the Government. "•I want to say advi.sedly that every policeman and every private citizen. who. has been injured is suffering injury as a direct result of the Qpvernment policy. Does the Government think that men will quietly stand by and see their women and children starve in the midst pf plenty?" The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister in Gharge of Unemployment, said that until the Unemployment Amendmenf Bill was finally passed, the resources at the disposal of the Unemploypient Board were limited. The Bill gave power to provide for all registered unemployed and he assured them that no one would starve. He aceused some members of the Opposition of misleading the unemployed apd reminded them that they had a responsibility to place before the people the exact position of the Government.