THREAT TO DOMINION'S REPUTATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 201, 18 April 1932, Page 4

THREAT TO DOMINION'S REPUTATION

All loyal New Zealanclers, irrespective of party, will welcome the firm stand taken by the local autl^oriti^s and police in Auckland, and the unequivocal support afforded them. by the Government, in dealing with. the disgraceful outbreak of lawlessness in the northern city. Nothing.has occurred .since Thursday night to alter the opinion expressed in these columns that the rioting and looting were tlie deliberate work of a comparatively small lawless element using the unrest among the unemployed and certain sections of the public service as a pretext. .The repetition of the outbreak on Friday night in Karangahape Road, when the city was full of shoppers and sightseers, is sufficient confirmation. The fact that shopkeepers had in many cases taken the precaution to strip their windows and the obvious lack of effective leadership among the rioters prevented a repetition of the disgraceful looting which marked the previous night's outbreak in Queen Street. Another factof was, of course, the greater prepardness of the authorities who had at their disposal a large force of special constables in addition to the regular police and the naval patrols. The crowded condition of the street, however, while it-hampered the operations of the forces of law and order, undoubtedly also helped to restrain the activities of the rioters, conclu'sive proof that the niass of the people were by no means in sympathy wiih them. The country ne'ed, therefore, entertain no apprehensions regarding the >final outcome of the trouble. Far from being the popular movement its perpetrators would doubtless like the people, and. Government to believe it, it is merely an outbreak of lawlessness by the comparatively small criminal element unfortunately to be found in all cities, probably to ,'so.me ex'&nt inspired. by a f ew disloyalists and other irresponsibles. Unfortunately, hcnvever, though it' is easy with.in the Dominion to gauge the real'nature of 'the trouble, it is a very difficult matter abroad and comment already cabled from Great Britain and. elsewhere shows the extent to which the causes of the outbreak have been misjudged and the damage- to the Dominion's reputation which must re8ult therefrom. For this reason it is doubly necessary that the people as a body get behipd the.constitutional authorities an.d, expres's in' no unccrtain terms by word and deed their abhofrence of all criminal violerice such a3 that which has stained- the good name of Auckland during the past few days. The matter is not a question of politics: it has gone too far for that and it is therefore greatly to be hoped that, politicians, of all parties will realise this' fact, and by their bearing and in their comment make their real'isation of it clear beyond possible doubt. Any other attitude on thqir part, no matter wfhat side they are on, will be no less a crime against their country than were the riotous actions themselves.