A DISGRACEFUL INCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 68, 13 December 1919, Page 8

A DISGRACEFUL INCIDENT

AN UNPATRIOTIC CROWD. By Tslograph-Prcsa Association. Auckland, December 12. The enthusiasm with pliL'h the National Anthem was' sutuj, in the T;mi' Hall Inst night was in striking contrast to Iho incident which attended its singing in a Labour meetiii;? in tho Town Hall Concert Chamber. °Jlr. Parry, the Labjiir candidate 'or Auckland Central, Imd concluded fropo;i:i'j n rote of thanks to his chairuun, .Mr. f.eo, a r.Miiriied soldier nose<sii>.s the Dist nguUhcd Conduct Jleda!, and iio audirjiice, lia\ing afforded the vote, liad l;e----r-iin to disperse, when n man in n frent seal of tho gallery .shouted:- "Has the (MiididiilD any objections to Iho meefin 1 ; In'ins closed with 'Gcd !:':iri> tin. The qiieslion was barely aniliblu i'.t°the fl-oiit »l llin liall on accdtiiit of tko luove.n)ont of the peoiilo orowdin , ; to the duo'. , ?. Mr. Parry w.ib bfiiilin;: iivor tho chiiinnnn's table collecting his papers, mid ap;:e:irc.l to be unaware of anything uiiusuai happenint;. The cha'rnian'culled out: "Tho meeting is eltised," whereupon the public recommenced t,> make for the oxitG. Sumo shouting was directed at; the tirrstioner in the nailery, whr. then bcLV.n to sin,? "Gcd .Sure tho Kim,'." He. had a powerful voice, 'but (he 'loav <;f "booing' which imstnnlly a row nearly (Irownncl iill tho sound he. made. There wan a fiifilado of crumpled nowspapcrii. both from the back of the p\llery and the rear of tho area, but tiio patriotic singer continued the Anthem until, «u easy mark for a cowardly hloiv, be was nloppnl br a Ktrgc onmgo striking him nil the l; :i cl; (if Hit- head. Hoth Ihe cmdidiite and the chairman had withdrawn from the platform before the alf air developed.