LIVELY MEETING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 66, 11 December 1930, Page 11

LIVELY MEETING

Eels and Stink-Bombs STUDENTS RUN WILD Anti-Vivisection Row By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Rec. December 10, 10 p.m.) London, December 9. An orderly meeting in the Central Hall at Westminster to protest against poison gas experiments on animals developed into a startling variety entertainment in which such novelties as stink-bombs and live eels were employed as missiles. - The disturbers were university students. They gave Commander J. M. Kenworthy, Labour member of the House of Commons for Hull Central, a quiet hearing, but during Dr. W. R. Hadwen’s speech, rose to the attack when an elderly gentleman who objected to smoking struck a student's cigarette from his mouth with a folded newspaper. The police appeared at the height of the melee and ejected the rowdiest combatants. The others tramped out singing Auld Lang Syne. Dr. Hadwen was the central figure of the pandemonium into which the students threw the anti-vivisection meeting on June 20, 1929.

The incident referred to took place when 200 students attended the annual meeting of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection. They interrupted speakers, and when attempts were made to eject them there was a general melee. Buckets of water and stink-bombs were thrown; live mice were released from boxes, and ran about among the audience. Students fought wildly, while women in the audience belaboured them with umbrellas.

After being ejected the students marched through the streets singing. “Bart’s patients never die, they only fade away.” It was found later that the demonstration had been completely prearranged. Even the convenor of the meeting was aware that it was, pending, and hn<l communicated with the police. Dr. Hndwen. who is president of the union, has for many years devoted the whole of his spare time to labour in the public advocacy of the repeal of the Vaccination Acts, the abolition of vivisection, and the prosecution of various medical reform movements. He is a physician and surgeon of considerable attainments. ,