"women were calling the homes of non-strikers and striking terror in the hearts of wives and children..."
Christchurch Riots
Early in May 1932, riots also took place in Christchurch and these were associated with the strike actions undertaken by Christchurch tramwaymen against pay and job cuts. It was organised by the Christchurch Tramways Union, led by president Jock Mathison. On the 6th May, union pickets, with support from relief workers clashed with 400 Specials, who were organised to protect the ‘scab’ (strikebreaking) tram-drivers. The following day, a ‘howling crowd’ or 2000 took over and inundated the Christchurch Rugby Club team because some of the players were Specials. This happened outside the Lancaster Park, until police batons came and cleared and escape route.
The main conflicts took place in the Cathedral Square between police and protesters, as they took over many of the trams. They armed themselves with wielded iron bars and stones in order to block the police. Frustrated at receiving no answers from the government, two mass riots and other acts of disobedience took place. Such acts included arson, damage done to shops and trams and in one case gelignite (explosive material) was put along a tram line. On the 8th May, a large crowd gathered in Cathedral-Square where a crowd of 3000 had been dispersed a few days before. “The drawn lintons in the hands of the special constables quietened the situation which threatened to develop into a riot” as Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) reported. Trouble had started when someone in the crow who had been softly singing The Red Flag (a socialist anthem, often associated with radical workers’ movements in the US), suddenly struck a constable in the face. The constable responded by seizing that person and as a result, other rioters “rushed to their comrade’s assistance.” The police quickly took control of the situation and dispersed the crowd with batons wielded. In the overall picture of events, it was seen that the Communists were the main participants in the disorders. Even though the tram workers had initiated the action, they did not actually take part in too many violent acts. All in all around 1500 Specials were called in to restore order and in total 38 protesters were detained. It was also reported that during this time, women took their own action by sometimes taking part in the demonstrations and supporting their husbands. They would also call the families of non-strikers and threaten them, leaving them in terror. It seemed that the people were under a different set of moral values during this time and many were overcome with the hopelessness of the situation to see and think clearly.
The Union curtailed strike action lasted 13 days, after which the workers returned to work (mostly in desperation), without having any of their demands met. It was only four years later, after the first Labour government came into power that the tramway mens' working hours were reduced.
The main conflicts took place in the Cathedral Square between police and protesters, as they took over many of the trams. They armed themselves with wielded iron bars and stones in order to block the police. Frustrated at receiving no answers from the government, two mass riots and other acts of disobedience took place. Such acts included arson, damage done to shops and trams and in one case gelignite (explosive material) was put along a tram line. On the 8th May, a large crowd gathered in Cathedral-Square where a crowd of 3000 had been dispersed a few days before. “The drawn lintons in the hands of the special constables quietened the situation which threatened to develop into a riot” as Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) reported. Trouble had started when someone in the crow who had been softly singing The Red Flag (a socialist anthem, often associated with radical workers’ movements in the US), suddenly struck a constable in the face. The constable responded by seizing that person and as a result, other rioters “rushed to their comrade’s assistance.” The police quickly took control of the situation and dispersed the crowd with batons wielded. In the overall picture of events, it was seen that the Communists were the main participants in the disorders. Even though the tram workers had initiated the action, they did not actually take part in too many violent acts. All in all around 1500 Specials were called in to restore order and in total 38 protesters were detained. It was also reported that during this time, women took their own action by sometimes taking part in the demonstrations and supporting their husbands. They would also call the families of non-strikers and threaten them, leaving them in terror. It seemed that the people were under a different set of moral values during this time and many were overcome with the hopelessness of the situation to see and think clearly.
The Union curtailed strike action lasted 13 days, after which the workers returned to work (mostly in desperation), without having any of their demands met. It was only four years later, after the first Labour government came into power that the tramway mens' working hours were reduced.
Something which stood out in the Christchurch riots, was the involvement of women. Several women took part in the demonstrations and others urged men to attack the police as the article above reports. It is also reported that the women who supported the strikers would call and threaten the wives and children of 'scab' laborers.