LITHGOW STRIKE RIOTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 59, 31 August 1911, Page 5

LITHGOW STRIKE RIOTS

SPECIAL POSSE OF POLICE. . NON-UNIONISTS MAL-TREATED. By Oable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, August 30. A special train with police reinforcements was sent to Lithgow last night, and other police have been drafted from the adjoining towns. The disturbance was apparently unpremeditated. A crowd of strikers and sympathisers, accompanied by a band, had gathered to see the usual change of shifts of non-unionists. The strikers came to watch and the crowd to hear the band. A number of youths started stoning the iion-unionists, the crowd made a rush, and swept away the small force of polioe, who, with the non-union-ists, retreated to the engine-house, and barred the doors. All the windows were broken, and the police, on attempting to quieten the rioters, were struck by missiles. Three of them were rather seriously injured, and the others had minor wounds. Meanwhile the crowd went through the free laborers' quarters, destroying a quantity of food and furniture, and setting fire to the bunks, which were afterwards thrown into the dam. Of Mr. Hoskins' two motor ears, which were near, one was damaged, but the chauffeur managed to get it away.. The other was set on fire and destroyed. The blast furnace was also shut off. Whether it can be restarted depends on whether police reinforcements arrive in time to release the imprisoned non-unionists, who, at a late hour, along with Mr. Hoskins, his sons and some of the staff, were still locked in the engine-room. Mr. Hoskins attributes the outbreak to drunken men inciting the crowds.

ARRIVAL OF POLICE. Sydney, Later. Police reinforcements have arrived at Lithgow and released Hoakins and nonunionists. There was no demonstration. Arrangements have been made to re-start the blast furnace. A LULL BEFORE A STORM. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £IO,OOO. Received 30, 9.35 p.m. Sydney, August 30. The presence of a large body of police at Lithgow is having a quietening effect. The unionists declare, however, that it is merely a lull before a storm, and that they are not content to see non-unionists displacing them. During the riot, considerable ''image was done. Mr. Hoskin's valuabl" 'otor car was saturated with petrol am; Yirnt. and a locomotive was stripped. Dozens of windows were smashed and the blast furnace damaged. The loss is variously ■ estimated at £IO,OOO. Mr. Beeby declared that the men participating in the riot should be punished, but the blame was not all on one side. Mr. Hoskins had declined his suggestion to reinstate the men on the old terms pending arbitration.

ANOTHER OUTBREAK. Received 31, 155 a.m. Sydney, August 30. A fresh outbreak occurred at Lithgow to-night. The police made a baton charge, but details are not forthcoming.