Riotous London Workmen.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 99, 25 April 1885, Page 5

Riotous London Workmen.

Great excitement was caused in London on Feb. 16, by the riotous conduct of a large number of unemployed workmen. Three thousand of them paraded the streets vt ith banners bearing mottoes of thoir grievances. Several bands of music accompanied the procession, which marched to the building occupied by the Local Government Board. A committeefrom the ranksentered the office and demanded relief for the people they represented. They wanted immediate employmentonthe construction of municipal works, which they said were needed for the public good. The officials in charge of the Board rooms were somewhat dismayed by the demonstration, but politely informed the deputation that no official answers to the demand could at the time be given, because Sir Charles Dilke, the President of the Board, was away, and during his absence nothing could be dono. This reply was received in sullen Mience" and the crowd, which by this time had beoomo a mob, rushed in a body into Downing-strcot, despite all the efforts of the police to prevent them. They stopped in front of tho official residence of Mr Gladstone, and howled and hisped invectives against the Government. A Cabinet Council was being held at the time, and the mob attempted to force their way into the room where the Council was sitting. The police at this point received reinforcements and ejected the intruders. The mob then attempted to storm the Admiralty and Home Office, but were drivon off, and finally dispersed by the police, A large meeting of unemployed workmen was held this afternoon on the Thames Embankment. Resolutions were adopted demanding a reduction in the hours of labour of Government workmen, and the construction of useful public works to give employment to the idle. Hyndman, Chairman of the Democratic Federation, presided at the meeting. Cheers for social revolution were given and violent speeches were made. The speakers insisted that railway and other public companies should be forbidden to employ men over eight hours per day. One of them asserted that Jay Gould had recently defeated a similar measure in New York State, and that he had his prototypes in the •oschons, Rothschilds, and Braseejs in London. Some of the policomen drew thoir staves when the eroAvd bocame noisy and demonstrative The mob when charged by the police fled precipitately. Some stones were thrown at tho police, and several of them were kicked during the disturbance No arrests were made. The police were unprepared for tho demonstration, and the rain was more effective than the batons of the constables in dispersing the crowd. Several policemen were maltreated, but no serious casualties are reported. Among the legends on the banners carried intheprocossion were : " We demand the right to work." "The voice of the people is the voice of God." " If you do not hear us now, you will have to before long." — " Pall Mall Gazette,"