GIFT BATTLESHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 8

GIFT BATTLESHIPS.

THE CHRISTCHURCH MEETING. MR. T. E. TAYLOR CHALLENgM.TQ.: •■ resign. ~;, •■..■..■.■.: ■ (BY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) .''"'' Christchurch, April 7. It is unfortunate that there is no building in Christchurch that can accommodate aii "widionce of 4000 or 5000. If such 'a place had been available, it is contended by some that the resolution carried last night at-Mr. Taylor's anti-Dreadnought meeting would have been defeated by two to one. There was a very solid phalanx of his supporters in the theatre when the doors were opened 'for the general public, and when at twenty minutes-to eight Mr. Taylor and his asso- •! ciates made their appearance the reception accorded to them was of admixed nature , ,, although it .was at '.once'..obviousj ithat'-ihey had the.sympathy of a large.propqrflon.'flf. the : audience. Upstairs the attendance-was , largely composed of women in the, proportion, . says the "Times,", probably of four to one, but in the remaining portions of the hall the men preponderated in ian even greater proportion. ' Mr. Taylor began his address with that characteristic emphasis, which has so often worn ..down opposition, and. ..with quick repartee and apt rejoinder ..he, quickly, secured more than a fair hearing. An inquiry of "Who packed the house?" drew, the '.. response that the inquirer should ask the ; police or the City ' Inspector. Mr. Hart, president of-the Trades and Labour Council, who seconded the motion, was greetedwith, vigorous singing of "We Parted on, the Shore," and his address was practically ..inaudible,; Mr.; H.-, A. Atkinson : fared .little.: .. better,.-.lfor a,| insistent uproar punctured, , his remarks, and his- logic was lost in the strains of. "One More River to Cross." Mr. Sullivan was a little more fortunate, for ■;■-. his impassioned logic was accepted for , a ;~- few minutes in comparative peace, ; but some v genius having suggested in a shrill whistle .■'■ that .he-should "get his hair cut," his dig■'mty. became a negligible quantity at once, " and he had to.perorate in absolute uproar. .' "Mr. Sinclair,, after disavowing. any connection with, either church or politics in- bis ■position on, the platform, was getting •■'! on swimmingly until'he had the misfortune to say, "I am prepared to make a great sacrifice," and' had hurled at him the suggestion, "Well, sit down." . Thereafter,he spoke to ■ ' the rafters uncomplainingly. The official speakers having finished, an amendment was . moved with some emphasis by an evident 'stranger, who wished a decision upon the moot question to be. held over until Parlia- . meirt had had an opportunity of discussing the matter, but no seconder being forthcoming, the amendment was.rejected with.contumely, and the motion was put and carried by a majority- of about three to one.' Incidentally it may be mentioned" that the ' majority of the ladies in, the building were, 'apparently possessed of two rights ha'nds'and that a nuinber of their male associates were vj: similarly deformed. 'The meeting wasfrankly ;;:jn -sympathy with' Mr. Taylor, and the opposition was evidently an organised one, .-..'though it was very largely reinforced by a guiet section of the audience when the serious business of voting was undertaken. ■ ■ A Challenge. .'.'• ;' ' ' The "Press" challenges Mr. Taylor 1 ibo re""•sign his seat and offer himself for-re-elec-tion on the Dreadnought issue. It says:—. Mr. T. E. Taylor denies that the meeting- ;; last night'was "packed, , ? and in proof of his [■ denial advances.tho somewhat Hibernian - pro.,position.that "the first man who .went.into ' the hall found it empty, and others were ■ ad- . mitted as they came." Far be it from us-to : dispute such a lucid and (logical assertion. r We : :aro' assured, however, on trustworthy authority that although the hall was announced to be opened at 7. o'clock, it was more than half full of people at five minutes to seven, and wo should like , to-know wither these consisted of Mr. Taylor's personal , ■ friends and supporters,, and whether the word was passed round to them to put in •-■ this, remarkably early appearance. We deny _,' absolutely that the long rigmarole submittedto the meeting in the guise of a resolutionrepresents fche opinion either of the city of Christchurch or of the electors .of Clirist- . church North. ■If Mr. Taylor disputes /this , assertion, there is an easy way for him to ■ put it.to the test. Let him resign his seat and submit himself again to the electors, .with last night's manifesto, apparently con;2octed by himself, as the issue to be . de- : cided. That is the tribunal to which he ■-should submit'himself, not a/meeting in a V hall which is half-filled in some-mysterious manner at a time when it is officially declared to be closed tho public. 'We are asked to correct a report (telegraphed from Christchurch) which stated that- Mr. A. R. Atkinson, of Wellington, seconded a resolution moved by Mr. T. 15. Taylor at the meeting held in Christchurch with references to the "Dreadnought" gift to the British Government. Mr. Atkinson was . not. in Christchurch at the time. In any case, we are informed, ho could not have supported the motion, as he holds different views. As the .above message shows, tbo name of the seconder wos Mr. H. A. Atkinson. ■'" .-.'■•