§ Colonel GRETTON(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the serious rioting at Ammanford Colliery, South Wales, last night; and what steps he proposes to take to maintain law and order?
§ Mr. J. JONESSend them down some Bass's beer; that will quieten them.
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANAre we not entitled to have from the hon. and gallant Gentleman the name of the place where, it is alleged, the rioting took place?
§ Colonel GRETTONThe colliery is Ammanford Colliery.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, Sir, I have been in daily telephonic touch with the chief constable, and have this morning received from him a report regarding last night's disturbance. It appears that a body of some hundreds of strikers, many of whom were unconnected with the pit in question, armed with staves and other weapons, approached the pit and, in spite of the endeavours of the deputy chief constable to persuade them to disperse, made a determined attack on the police on duty. When the deputy chief constable, and the inspector and sergeant in charge of the men, had all been somewhat seriously injured, the police were forced to retreat to the colliery offices; but the reinforcements which were standing ready and had in the meantime been summoned, were able, shortly before midnight, to clear the colliery premises and disperse the rioters. Some damage was done on the colliery premises, but the safety men remain at work.
The chief constable of the county is responsible for the measures for maintaining order in the district. I understand that no further disturbances are anticipated at present, but that, as a precautionary measure, the chief constable has taken steps to augment the police at his disposal by obtaining assistance from another force.