ANTI-MILITARISTMEETING

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 98, 1 June 1914, Page 10

ANTI-MILITARISTMEETING

PATRIOTIC PROCEEDINGS.

. Some excitement was caused in Cathedral Square on night at the meeting, of anti-militarista which commenced at 8 o 'clock. For an hour a crowd of about 200 persons listened good-humburedly to the speakers. The signal for the first hostile demonstration was the remark made by a supporter of the speaker on the cart when he referred in slighting terms "to the Eoyal Family, and King George in particular. Almost immediately the anti-militarist 's speech was drowned by ' 'Rule Britannia,'' sung steadily for some five minutes. A section of the crowd then asked repeatedly in solo and' chorus: ' ' What, would you do if there was an invasion?". No.satisfactory answer was forthcoming, but the gist Of the reply was that they would prepare when it came. Finally three cheers were given" for the King. By this time! fully 300 or 400 people were present, and as someone started the National Anthem all the hats came off and the whole Crowd joined s heartily in singing *{ God Save the King.'There was some little disturbance some of those present, refused, to take off their hats, put persuasive measures convinced these persons that it would be prudeht to uncover. Another verse of the anthem was simg, and the, speaker/climbed" down from his cart as the crowd, still goodhumoured., dissolved. • One question, asked the speaker was whether he had any connection with the persons 'who wrote' the articles *iii the Welsh papers which belittled and ran' <jown .the Dominion. , After, .some .hesitation and considerable heckling, he admitted that ' '.the writers were some of his people."-. The admission was enough and a chorus of groans and. lioots arose.