BRISBANE STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10549, 3 February 1912, Page 5

BRISBANE STRIKE

CABLE NEWS

(United Press Association—By Mec- j trie Telegraph — Copyright.) 1

POLICE CHARGE THE CROWD AN EXCITING TIME. SIEYERAL PERSONS INJURED. (.Received Last Night, 9 o'clock.) BiMStBAiNE, February 2. , The decision of the authorities not •tb allow tne usual procession to-day ■was responsible for the first serious outbreak since the strike began. A "owd of eight thousand strikers \gathered at the Tirades Kail, with Iwie intention of parading. iMtr Bowman, leader of the Labour | "(Party, on Ms amval announced that the procession had been forbidden. The nnouncement created much '(dissatisfaction. In the meantime a strong body of foot police, carrying rifles with bayonets fixed, and mounted troopers armed • with swords, cajne on the. .scene. j Chief Inspector Urquliart, who was in charge of the police, informed the 1 crowd that the rifles were loaded with : oall cartridge, and ordered them to . disperse. j" Ihe bulk of the gathering took the hint and left, the Union leaders also i using their influence to prevent tro.u,We. . ■ J j Subsequently an &W apt was j made to re-form the profession, with Mrs Miller, prominent Labourite, at j the head. Several hundreds, . including many l wiomen, attempted to break tbrbugjh the police ranks. I The women were allowed to pass. The police then closed up. The crowd refusing to v disperse, the mounted troopers charged. The police also freely used their batons. ... The excitement ran high. Eventually the ordtt'd was broken up, the streets in the vicinity, of the Trades Hall swept clean, and order restored. During the melee, two policemen inf vplain clothes and a constable were slighHy injured. Several strikers received injuries.