Five arrested after ugly clash at P.M.’s meeting

Press, 22 November 1978, Page 1

Five arrested after ugly clash at P.M.’s meeting

By NZPA political correspondent DEREK ROUND Dunedin Five persons were arrested after the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) had been jammed against his car in an ugly clash with demonstrators after a meeting in Dunedin last evening. Mr Muldoon managed to get inside his car unhurt, as uniformed and plainclothes policemen struggled to hold back the shouting demonstrators outside the Dunedin Town Hall.

Tiie car was pelted with eggs and water bombs and demonstrators hammered it with placards as it sped away. The noisy meeting was attended by a near-capacitv crowd of about 2400. More than 500 hecklers, most of them voung. kept up an almost continuous barrage of chanting, shouting, whistling, and footstamping throughout. “It’s a bloody disgrace — and I’m just an ordinary New Zealander who spent six years away at the war.” a middle-aged man said as

Mr Muldoon was driven away. Mr Muldoon was sweating as he shouted to make himself heard against the hecklers, who filled most of the gallery and the “gods” in the Town Hall. Dozens of them streamed out just before 9 p.m.. and Mr Muldoon called after them: “Off to the pub. You’ve got an hour before it. closes.” Cheering and booing greeted his comment: “Rats deserting the Labour Party’s sinking ship.” More applause came from

National supporters in the stalls when Mr Muldoon said: “One poor old middleaged politician with a microphone. and they cannot stay. What a spectacle. They’re going back to the pub before closing time. Well, you have seen the Labour Party in action.” When he ended his meet 1 - ing 10 minutes later, Mr Muldoon told the crowd: “Thanks for coming along. Thanks for demonstrating. The forces of light can overcome the powers of darkness any day.”

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