"threats made.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 10

"threats made.

PACIFISTS HECKLED. "CHUCK HIM IN THE RIVER." POLICE ESCORT NECESSARY. (Br Tolr-rapli.—Press Association.) CFIKISTCHURCH, this day. When a. pacifist meeting in Victoria Square broke up in disorder last niglit, the chairman, the Kcv. F. X. Taylor, against whom threats were made, as also they were against another speaker, to "chuck him in the river," had to he escorted away by a policc sergeant and two constables. ■'In the name of peace I had hotter <rn home," remarked Mr. Taylor in a voice of despair. One man called out: "Why not. keep quiet till the Ist, 2nd and 3rd echelons are away; then we will give you a fair This man. wTio wore vhe badge of the Returned Soldiers' Association, said the association had no political feeling, hut many of its members objected to pacifists holding meetings. Only those in the inner circle at the open-air meeting were able to hear the first three of the four announced speakers. The fourth speaker was not heard because the meeting was abandoned in an uproar. Members of the public who were more than five yards from the speakers heard nothing but the clamour of the arguments of the groups about them. From the opening remarks of Mr. Taylor interruptions were incessant. The speakers were unable 1o make themselves heard, and the attention of tho mass of the crowd was diverted by the cross-arguments which developed among men, women and youths.