BATON CHARGE MADE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 221, 12 May 1932, Page 5

BATON CHARGE MADE

(Press. Assn.-

CROWD INVOLVED IN MELEE BY MILITANT LEADERS MORE TROUBLE IN WELLINGTON

— By Telegrsph — Copyrlght).

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An attempt by striking relief workers and unemployecl to hold a mass meeting on a vacant section in Upper Cuba Street this afternoon precipitatea a brief but ugly clash with the police. Within the space of two minutes a threatening crowd of 200 was routed and scattered, mounted and foot constables going into action in a lightening baton charge. The strikers and unemployed were embroiled in the melee by militant leaders, who defied the ban on outdoor assembli'es, and ignored the appeals of the Trades Hall officials. Throughout the morning and afternoon an atmosphere of tension existed in the Vivian Straet -area, particularly in the vicinity of the Trades Hall, where a meeting was being held. After a meeting held by the strikers delegates at 3.30 p.m. an attempt was made to hold a full meeting of strikers in the Trades Hall dance hall. In a few minutes the hall's stairways and corridors on every floor were jammed with humanity, and from those who had no hope of admittance to the meeting came the cry: "To the vacant section in upper Cuba Street." The instruction was repeated by the leaders and aeted on by the excited crowd. Hundreds flocked out of the building and along Vivian Street, reinforced by hundreds more. No formation was attempted, the crowd blocking the entire thoroughfare as they proceeded to Cuba Street. Speclals On Duty A strong force of police under Inspector Lander, accompanied (the would-be demonstrators, and special police with steel helmets were drawn in double ranks at the intersection of Vivian and Cuba Streets, but no attempts were made at that juncture to disperse the crowd or interfere with their movements. When the vacant section was reached, the crowd which by that fcime was 2000 strong, completely filled it. The overflow and many curious onlookers lined the fences on the three sides of the area, while hundreds more sensation seekers blocked Cuba Street footpath. Police Warn Leaders Inspector Lander warned the leaders that the speeches must be hrief. "Comrade" Kelly, who was promin'ent in yesterday's demonstration, was the second speaker, and was referring to the Alliance of Lahour arranging a one-day strike, when Inspector Lander said: "That's enough." Comrade Kelly continued, but was pulled down from the box. Instantlv a shower of stones and bricks came from a eorner of the section. "Get at them," shouted Inspector Lander, and the police went forward "with batons drawn. The crowd stampeded in all directions, many being pushed against fences which gave way, and the crowd thronged through back yards pursued by constables, who belahoured all who stopped or turned. The mounbed constables also moved amongst the fleeing crowd. Many Minor Injuries As a result of the disturbances this afternoon, a number of persons were treated by the free ambulance and at the hospital, for minor injuries. Only one man reeeived severe enough injuries to warrant his being detained in hospital, that being a broken leg., sustained by a fall off a fence. The ascertainable injuries are as follows: In hospital: Francis Walker, labourer, c/o. City Mission, broken leg. Police' Patrol City Lambton Quay and Willis Street, where the damage was done on Tuesday afternoon, are still being patrolled by special police. Cuba, Taranaki and Vivian Streets are under the protection of the regular police. Meetings are being held in the Trades Hall this evening, and there are largs numbers of isolated groups about this area, but the police have taetfully kept them moving. At 10.30 p.m. the streets were comparatively quiet, and most of those waiting began drifting away.