UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 164, 11 July 1906, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATION.

The Melbourne unemployed, headed by Tom Mann, made a demonstration at the opening of the State Parliament. Between 200 and 300 men assembled outside the Exhibition Building, and they filled in the time before the arrival of the Governor by singing labour songs, some to the tune of the "Marsellaise." When Sir Reginald Talbot and staff reached the scene they were greeted with a round of hooting, and this was repeated when they emerged from the building after the ceremony. Mr Mann soon afterwards led the men through several of the principal streets of the city. At several places the police instructed them to observe the traffic regulations. This led to demonstrations against the officers of the law. A woman carrying a white flag bearing the words "Freedom, Liberty, and Justice" in blue letters was prominent throughout the proceedings. Eventually they reached the rooms of Mr Mann's socialist party, and there Mr Mann congratulated his followers on the menacing aspect with which they had, in front of Parliament House, demanded what was due them. "Our forefathers often had to face the bayonet," he added, "and I am not sure that those drawn bayonets up there were not meant for us." Mr Mann congratulated his followers on having defied the law and hoodwinkea the police. They had gone in a body to Parliament House, which the law said they must not do, and they had marched where the law said they should not. "But we must not forget our poor comrade in the watch-house," he added. "It's not a nice place," interjected one of the crowd, "for I've been there!" After singing the "Marsellaise" and other songs from the socialist songbook, the gathering was dismissed by Mr Mann.