“RECREANT TO DITTY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 502, 3 November 1928, Page 9

“RECREANT TO DITTY”

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT CHARGED MR. BRUCE’S SEVERE CASTIGATION (United JP.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 1.0 p.m. MELBOURNE, To-dav. FE PRIME MINISTER, Mr. S. M. Bruce, speaking in the country during his election tour, declared that the Federal Government intended to see that adequate protection was afforded to volunteer watersiders. He called the Labour Administration of Victoria severely to task for not taking prompt and firm action to deal with the rioters.

J>EFERRING to the latest attacks on free labourers, the Prime Minister said that attempts were being made to intimidate and drive off the wharves the men who had come to help the country in a time of national crisis. The Federal Government was determined that this must stop. It was the State Government’s duty to see that the intimidation was stopped, and he could only draw the conclusion that the Victorian Administration had been recreant to duty, since it had never announced its definite intentions. The Premier, Mr. E. J. Hogan, should have come out and informed the people. The Government was there to preserve law and order, said Mr. Bruce, and should have taken all steps to prevent attacks on workers on the waterfront. This would have had a tremendous effect. The present happenings were significant, and should be studied closely in .view of the approaching elections, because there had been indications in the past three weeks that if a Labour Government were placed in power, a state of disorder, chaos and uncertainty would follow. Mob rule and violence must not be permitted.

SHOOTING JUSTIFIED

them were thrown into the sea. They were either rescued or paddled to safety.

About 1.000 unionists gathered round the gates of Princes Pier in the morning and demanded admission. When this was refused they stormed the gates. Armed with sticks and stones the mob overwhelmed the police, whose batons were ineffective. Consequently they were compelled to shoot. The battle had raged for half an hour before the infuriated mob was dispersed. All work came to a standstill and Princes Pier was isolated and large overseas vessels. Including the Chitral, were idle. A hundred extra policemen were brought from the country to MelAn airplane swooped down on the rioters while the battle was in progress. The men feared a machinegun would be fired from it any moment, and scattered and ducked their heads. However, nothing of the kind happened. A similar incident occurred yesterday when the cruiser Brisbane fired a gun which was only being tested. Shots were fired at a tug, on board of which volunteers were being taken to work at Port Melbourne this afternoon. Stones were also thrown and one free labourer was injured. An attempt was made to raid the steamer Port Adelaide, but the chief officer of the vessel drew a revolver and repulsed the attackers.

Representatives of the unionists and stevedores interviewed the Premier of Victoria, Mr. E. J. Hogan, and asked him to restrain the police from using firearms. Otherwise, they said, they would have to resort to firearms themselves. Mr. Hogan gave the men to understand that the police were bound to preserve law and order. He promised to call the Cabinet together to discuss the latest developments. bourne to help to maintain order.

COMMISSIONER’S VIEW T.U.C. WANTS INQUIRY (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 12.30 p.m. MELBOURNE, To-day The Victorian Commissioner of Police, General Blarney, says that yesterday’s firing by the police was justified, otherwise they would have been overwhelmed, and the strikers would have gained control. Further drafts of police are being brought to the city. There is no need to enrol special constables, he says, as the existing force is sufficient. The secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Mr. Crofts, says that that body intends to urge the Premier, Mr. E. J. Hogan, to institute an inquiry into the shooting which, he asserts, was unnecessary against unarmed men.

During the police strike in November, 1923, when a somewhat similar state of affairs prevailed in Melbourne, hundreds of special constables were enrolled and paraded the streets armed with heavy batons. On several occasions they came into conflict with the lawless element, which tried to seize the opportunity to loot shops. After the first serious riots, however, the “specials” were effective in maintaining order until police reinforcements arrived from the country districts.