"A PECULIAR INCIDENT."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1230, 12 September 1911, Page 4

"A PECULIAR INCIDENT."

STATEMENT BY MR. M'LAIiEN. Mr. I). M'Laren, M.P., who was chairs man of the meeting addressed by Professor AY. T. Mills last Sunday evening, says that this journal's report of an incident that occurred at the close gave a wrong impression. "I want to state exactly what took place," said Mr. M'Laren, when he called at this oflice last; evening. "After tho Professor had finished his lecture, T invited questions, and several were asked and answered. Then Mr. Mills proceeded to make his announcements ana an appeal in support of tho guarantee fund. This is what he usually does at tho close of his meetings. When ho had nearly finished a ctrlnin individual, whom 1 did not; recognise, jumped up, a.nd asked if ho could put a finest ion. Professor Mills said, 'No,' and added that tho time for questions was past. Tho individual, however, persisted, and I, after consulting tho Profe.ssor, staled that tho question would not bo answered (hen, and he hail better resume his scat. He still persisted in his endeavour to put the question,/ and ho was then told by Mr. Mills that ho would havo to sit down or leave tho meeting, tho Professor faying, 'I am not going to have any individual walk in here as ho pleases, and attempt to run my meeting.' I did not know thero was a constable in the hall, and I did not know who tho individual was, beon use. unfortunately, I am unable to distinguish persons at a distance. After the meeting, Professor Mills remarked to 1110 that 110 was convinced that the questioner's object was simplv to distract the attention of the audionco from what ho was saying, if not to create disorder, and 110 was determined that his meeting should bo held, as hitherto, in an orderly manner. Now that the question has been given to tho press, I think Professor Mills was quita right in his opinion, and that the objcct of tho questioner was not to obtain an elucidation of any matter spoken of by tho questioner, but rather to create dissension. 1 make this statement because Professor Mills, left town this morning, and I think tho matter should bo put right." ________