MR MASSEY'S MEETING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14094, 13 July 1911, Page 8

MR MASSEY'S MEETING.

THE " REGRETTABLE INCIDENT."

DR. LEVINGE'S EXPLANATION-.' Dr. Levinge, whcso dispute with tfw . : Mayor constituted the "regiettable {_.' -* cident" ot last night's meeting, mad. *- an explanation yesterday of the cimun. ' stances leading up to tho occurrence. He 6aid that the Mayor and Mr Massey wero discussing tlie advisability -. of removing the meeting to the Exa_£ Edward Barracks, and ho was invited to give his opinion on the matter, H# ; ' said that ho was against the proposal *■■ The Mayor remarked to Mr Massey; \' "You will never get a better crowd* -- and Dr. Levinge rejoined: "It's your'-* crowd, Mr Taylor." This was the re* -'- mark to which the Mayor took exoe'a. '< tion. Dr. Levinge says that it was not' ■ made in an offensive spirit. ~. However, when ho mado the state.' * ment, he had quite forgotten for the 5 moment that he was chairman of Canterbury branch of the Political Re- "i----form league, and that the Mayor wai -j the chairman whom tho League had iiK-it vited to preside. Had he realised that 1 ' at tho moment, he would also have g realised that ho should not have made •-, tho remark. Dr. Levinge denies that .J ho appeared suddenly on tho platform ' in an excited framo' of mind, or that.*.-' ho said to Mr Taylor: "This is yotjr*'* 'mob.' " He did not accuse Mr Taylor-f of having organised the presence of fti? many of his admirers, but he believed/ that their presence was due to ths * publicity given by Mr Taylor to his >' J < personal dispute with Mr Massey. " \