HOLDING UP OF SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24869, 8 May 1946, Page 7

HOLDING UP OF SUPPLIES

SYDNEY CITIZENS’ PROTEST SCENES AT T 0W r N HALL MEETING (NJB. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 8 pan.) SYDNEY May 7. The meeting of citizens in the Sydney Town Hall yesterday when 30 men and women were ejected by the police in less than an hour is regarded as a victory of citizens against organised hooliganism by Communists and their supporters. The meeting, which was called as a protest against the deliberate holding up of supplies by industrial action, was attended by 2400 people of whom about 300 showed their determination to prevent the speakers being heard. “The meeting was probably the mightiest and most triumphant demonstration by the general public ever held in Sydney.’’ said Mr D. P. Macdonald. a member of the Legislative Assembly. “A frantic yet organised attempt to disrupt the meeting failed miserably, but it served to show the existence of an element prepared to defy law and order and resort U> gangsterism. The resolution passed by the meeting from the Citizens’ Rights Committee will have far-reaching effects.’’ The disturbances started when the first speaker was introduced. At ono stage people were being ejected at the rate of one a minute. A bodyguard of several men formed round a man who tried to address the meeting from the speakers' platform. One woman bit an attendant’s wrist and left a false tooth embedded in the flesh. A man clinging to a row of six chairs was removed by four policemen who carried him out* chairs and all. Sometimes as many as 100 interjectors were on their feet shouting at once. Their cries were mostly “meat baron.” “press baron,” and “wait till the revolution.” Before being forced to leave some of the disruptionists tossed handfuls of Communist propaganda in the air. At one stage 20 fist' fights were taking place at once. The meeting ended with thunderoul cheers by the main body of listeners in support of the official speakers. “The worm turned in the Town Hall yesterday,” says the “Daily Telegraph.” “More than 2000 citizens denounced the despotism of planned anarchy which trumps up industrial grievances to deprive the people of meat, coal, and electricity as a lever to break down the authority of the law and extract special benefits for a selfish section. “A strong popular organisation it needed to continue expressing the Ordinary man and woman’s inarticulate anger against actions which the authorities studiously ignore. Mr Forde anxiously warned the Labour Party the other day that strikes were the Achilles heel of Labour. Take advantage of that state of mind to tell him what you think of the miners, wharf lumpers, ironworkers, and mcatwof kera who cynically use your discomfort to increase their own benefits."

Pointing out that the meeting was a genuine citizens' rally originating in a strong sense of communitv grievance, the "Sydney Morning Herald” describes it as an “amazing both of the depth of public feeling over repeated holdups of essential supplies and of the audacity of a faction which is out to spread disorder and suppress free speech.” The paper adds that citizens are in revolt at last, and those to whom they have looked in vain for protection should take heed of their spontaneous uprising.