LABOURER STABBED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 9

LABOURER STABBED

CLIMAX TO NEWCASTLE STREET FIGHTS ATTACK, IN DARK SPOT United P. A. —By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. The climax to a sensational riot be; tween wharf labourers and free labourers at Newcastle was reached last night when a free labourer was stabbed and is now dying in hospital. The victim, Ben Pauli, together with his brother, Henry, were attacked in a dark spot. Henry, in struggling with his attacker, was severely cut about the hands and arms. UNIONIST’S TAUNT HOW THE TROUBLE STARTED POLICE GAIN CONTROL SYDNEY, Sunday. A number of free labourers who had just been paid off at a shipping office at Newcastle yesterday were crossing a street when a unionist uttered an epithet descriptive of his scorn for volunteer workers. The man was chased and others joined in. Almost instantly several free fights w-ere in progress. The police- arrived on the scene and made one arrest. Peace was restored for a time. The crowds grew, however, evidently awaiting a further outbreak. This was not long in coming. A disturbance was started in an hotel bar and spread to the street. When a policeman arrested the man who appeared to be the principal in the affair, his sympathisers asked why a free labourer was not arrested too. The crowd began to close in on the officer in a threatening manner. Police reinforcements then arrived and the arrested man was taken to the lock-up. Four other men were arrested. Some of the crowd seemed to be inclined to rescue their friends from the lock-up. but wiser counsels prevailed and eventually the crowd dispersed.