Scenes unprecedented in the history of Dunedin were enacted in George street on Saturday morning when a situation in which resided all the possibilities of serious and dangerous rioting was saved from developing into an orgy of destruction by the commendably tactful and shrewdly understanding attitude of the police under the personal command of Superintendent Eccles.
A hungry crowd of from 200 to 300 unemployed men, following on the refusal of their demands by the Otago Hospital board, stormed the premises of one of the largest grocery establishments in the city with the intent to victual themselves to the extent to which they considered themselves entitled.
At several times during the day things looked unquestionably ugly, and but for the praiseworthy action of the police it would be difficult to speculate to what lengths the excesses of the rioters might have gone.
One firm suffered losses aggregating about 110 as a result of broken windows, to say nothing of business lost through an enforced closing of its premises at 11.30 on a Saturday morning, but it may be conjectured that with less competent and sympathetic handling by the police the loss would have been spread over the shopping area of the city with disastrous results not only to property but possible also to life and limb.
Saturday was a day which the majority of the people of Dunedin would gladly erase from the annals of the city, but the fact remains that a section of the inhabitants, inflamed and enraged by the privations and hardships of the times, rose in active and dangerous rebellion against a state of affairs which they regarded as unjust and inequitable.
The cry throughout the day was for work and the opportunity to live rather than for charity, and the excuse that was offered for the extreme measures adopted was the failure of sane and constitutional methods to attain the object for which, it was alleged, the day's demonstration was organised - the provision of adequate food and sustenance to tide no fewer than 2000 men, women and children over the week-end.
It was a comparatively small and harmless-looking crowd which marched four deep along George street to the Hospital Board's office.
Reinforced at the corner of Hanover and George streets by scores of others who would not join in the procession the assemblage had a formidable appearance when it halted in front of the modest premises in Hanover street.
In the foremost ranks of the crowd were dozens of women, for whom the officials of the Hospital Board did their best. As each one emerged from the building with the tale that nothing could be done for the dependents of men who had received relief during the week, howls of indignation arose from a crowd of from 200 to 300 men, who were, with difficulty, held back from a violent assault on the premises by a pitifully-inadequate detachment of police, under the personal command of Superintendent Eccles.
Thus the cry went up, "To Wardell's", and a move was made towards the largest grocery retail establishment in the city. Arrived at Wardell's, the mob found a cordon of police guarding the doors.
The crowd, now numbering about 400, halted in front of the shop.
Superintendent Eccles, still using the tact and understanding which had characterised all his dealings with the crowd, endeavoured to dissuade them from their mad intention, but all to no purpose. Scarcely had he finished speaking when a concerted rush was made on the front doors.
There were no more than about half a dozen policemen to withstand the charge, but they stood their ground like heroes, and after a desperate struggle, they warded of the attack of fully 150 men who were determined to enter the store and secure what they required.
A detachment of reinforcements arrived with batons for the whole force.
A few rocks and brickbats were hurled from the back of the crowd and another surge towards the doorway commenced. The police linked arms and repulsed the attack. With remarkable and commendable restraint, acting under the directions of the Superintendent, no batons were drawn, sheer force of weight being used to turn back the tide which surged towards the now closed doors of the shop.
Howls of execration and rage arose from the rear ranks, while the front rankers endeavoured to pacify the large proportion of their comrades who had obviously got out of hand. Superintendent Eccles, who had already acted as spokesman of the crowd, interviewed Mr Wardell, and returned to announce that the proprietor was not willing to submit to intimidation.
At that the hullabaloo broke out afresh, and a further move was made towards the shop. The police, still smiling and exhibiting all the good nature in the world, stood their ground.
It was stated that Mr R. D. Polson had offered to head a subscription list with a 10 note to provide for the crowd. A further 10s note was forthcoming, and the crowd began to quieten down. A firm of grocers in South Dunedin undertook, on the guarantee of Mr Polson, to supply 800 parcels of the value of 5s each for the crowd, and it was announced that as soon as these parcels could be wrapped up they would be delivered at the Dowling street relief depot for distribution.
There were scenes of remarkable activity in the Dowling street depot on Saturday night.
The 800 parcels of groceries previously guaranteed were forthcoming, but in addition to these the citizens of Dunedin provided hundreds of other parcels of foodstuffs, vegetables and other necessaries. In fact for a time around about 4 and 5 p.m. the incomings equalled the outgoings.
- January 11, 1931
