AGITATORS ON A STATUE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 286, 30 August 1935, Page 6

AGITATORS ON A STATUE

Unrehearsed Incident

SCENE AT PARLIAMENT GROUNDS

An unrehearsed incident caused a mild sensation at Parliament grounds yesterday afternoon and slightly marred the picturesque ceremony of the Governor-General’s inspection of the guard of honour at the front door of Parliament House.

Two determined-looking men —one was wearing a scarlet sweater — had clambered to the top of the high base of tlie Seddou statue. Their conspicuous perch and grim appearance attracted tlie attention of several thousands of spectators. “What are those two men going to do? One of them has a brown paper parcel; is he going to throw a bomb?” Such were a few of the excited questions and exclamations as a posse of police hurried toward the odd eyrie. Observers were relieved to see at once that agitation not assassination, was the purpose ot the men. The parcel was opened and there emerged a gaudy banner. A brisk wind, however, together with tlie necessity for the men “minding their step,” hindered a full unfurling of the challenging flag. Almost before spectators could read the slogan demanding higher pay for relief workers, an energetic detective, with the aid of a “leg-up” from a constable, had wrenched the banner out of the agitators’ hands. Loss of the flag did not daunt them. While detectives and constables were helping one another in an “Excelsior” act, each of the men in turn harangued the excited crowd near the base of the statue. Even after a constable had grappled with the men they clung to the statue, tried to kick away clutching hands, and kept on agitating. But their position was too precarious to last, and ultimately both, together with a policeman or two, half slithered and half tumbled off the statue. No one was hurt. Several onlookers demonstrated against the police. The two men were taken to the watch-homv